Constantine/قسنطينة/Qasentina (third largest city in Algeria)

santa_cruz · January 6th, 2009, 01:10 AM

Constantine/قسنطينة/Qasentina : built on a mountaintop, with a ravine bisecting the city

Constantine (Arabic:Arabic: قسنطينة) is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast.

Regarded as the capital of eastern Algeria and the centre of its region, Constantine has a population of over 500,000 (750,000 with the agglomeration), making it the third largest city in the country after Algiers and Oran.

Constantine is situated on a plateau at 640 metres above sea level. The city is framed by a deep ravine and has a dramatic appearance. The city is very picturesque with a number of bridges and a viaduct crossing the ravine. The ravine is crossed by four bridges, including Pont Sidi M'Cid.

Constantine has one university, the University of Constantine, which was founded in 1969. There are museums and important historical sites around the city.

Constantine is the railhead of a prosperous and diverse agricultural area. It also a center of the grain trade and has flour mills, a tractor factory, and industries producing textiles, wool, linen, and leather goods[citation needed]. Algeria and Tunisia serve as its markets.

History

The city was originally settled by Numidian people, and was known as Sarim Batim. Later its name was Cirta, thought to be from the Phoenician word for "city", but originates in fact from "Thacirth" which is an Imazighen (Berber) word for a traditional wheat grinder made of stones (due to the stony look of the city). Constantine was capital city of the Numidia, a berber empire that emerged in the 3rd century BC. The city was founded in 203 BC by king Micipsa, with the help of Greek colonists. She distinguished for the splendour of the public buildings and its population overcame that of all other towns of northern Africa. It had an army of 10,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry. In 113 BC the town was conquered by Jugurtha. Later it served as base of the Roman generals Caecilius Metellus Numidicus and Caius Marius. In 107 BC the latter gained a victory over Jugurtha in the nearby of Cirta. With the suppression of king Juba I and the rest of the supporters of Pompey in Africa (46 BC), Julius Caesar gave special civil rights to a part of Cirta, under the name of Sittlanorum Colonia. It became the head of a confederation of four similar settlements in North Africa.

In 311, during the civil war between emperor Maxentius and usurper Domitius Alexander (former governor of Africa), the city was destroyed. Rebuilt in 313, it was subsequently named after emperor Constantine the Great, who had defeated Maxentius. Conquered by the Vandals in 432, Constantine returned to the Byzantine exarchate of North Africa from 534 to 697. It was conquered by the Arabs in the 7th century, receiving the name of Qusantina.

The city recovered and in 12th century was again a prosperous market, with connection to Pisa, Genoa and Venice. Since 1529 it was intermittently part of Ottoman Empire, ruled by a Turkish bey (governor) subordinate to the dey of Algiers. Salah Bey, who ruled the city in 1770-1792, greatly embellished it and built much of the Muslim architecture still visible today.

In 1826 ,the last Bey, Ahmed Bey ben Mohamed Chérif became the new head of state and led a fierce resistance against French occupation forces. By 13 October 1837 the territory was reconquered by France, and in 1848 it was incorporated into the colony of Algiers (Algeria).

In World War II, during campaign in North Africa (1942-43), Constantine and the nearby city of Sétif were used by the Allied forces as operational bases.

santa_cruz · January 6th, 2009, 01:15 AM

santa_cruz · January 6th, 2009, 01:24 AM

santa_cruz · January 6th, 2009, 01:27 AM

santa_cruz · January 6th, 2009, 01:31 AM

CasaMor · January 6th, 2009, 01:32 AM

Wow, j'adore cette photo!

***Arpels*** · January 6th, 2009, 01:35 AM

beautiful, the city it was made over the ravins.

santa_cruz · January 6th, 2009, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CasaMor

Wow, j'adore cette photo!

une de mes préférées aussi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arpels

beautiful, the city it was made over the ravins.

thanks Arpels for all your comments

Metsada · January 6th, 2009, 01:48 AM

WOW !!! Algeria deserves as many tourists as Turkey !!! Why don't you promote your country more? It's clearly one of the most beautiful countries in the world....

alitezar · January 6th, 2009, 04:21 AM

omg, I just love Algeira, so so so sooooooo beautiful

christos-greece · January 6th, 2009, 11:03 AM

Very nice city

Daano · January 6th, 2009, 09:11 PM

another great Algerian city!

Galandar · January 6th, 2009, 09:21 PM

What a beautiful city!

Gordion · January 6th, 2009, 10:16 PM

Great city.

santa_cruz · January 7th, 2009, 07:52 AM

thnx all

santa_cruz · January 7th, 2009, 08:08 AM

alitezar · January 7th, 2009, 08:34 AM

omg, absolutely breathtaking, Constantine by far is my most favorite city. The settings of the city is just breathtaking

santa_cruz · January 7th, 2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alitezar

omg, absolutely breathtaking, Constantine by far is my most favorite city. The settings of the city is just breathtaking

thanks alitezar

santa_cruz · January 7th, 2009, 08:42 AM

santa_cruz · January 7th, 2009, 08:45 AM

Some Aerial Shots

January 6th, 2009, 01:10 AM	#1
santa_cruz BANNED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal,CA/Annaba,Al Posts: 1,780	Constantine/قسنطينة/Qasentina (third largest city in Algeria) Constantine/قسنطينة/Qasentina : built on a mountaintop, with a ravine bisecting the city Constantine (Arabic:Arabic: قسنطينة) is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. Slightly inland, it is about 80 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast. Regarded as the capital of eastern Algeria and the centre of its region, Constantine has a population of over 500,000 (750,000 with the agglomeration), making it the third largest city in the country after Algiers and Oran. Constantine is situated on a plateau at 640 metres above sea level. The city is framed by a deep ravine and has a dramatic appearance. The city is very picturesque with a number of bridges and a viaduct crossing the ravine. The ravine is crossed by four bridges, including Pont Sidi M'Cid. Constantine has one university, the University of Constantine, which was founded in 1969. There are museums and important historical sites around the city. Constantine is the railhead of a prosperous and diverse agricultural area. It also a center of the grain trade and has flour mills, a tractor factory, and industries producing textiles, wool, linen, and leather goods[citation needed]. Algeria and Tunisia serve as its markets. History The city was originally settled by Numidian people, and was known as Sarim Batim. Later its name was Cirta, thought to be from the Phoenician word for "city", but originates in fact from "Thacirth" which is an Imazighen (Berber) word for a traditional wheat grinder made of stones (due to the stony look of the city). Constantine was capital city of the Numidia, a berber empire that emerged in the 3rd century BC. The city was founded in 203 BC by king Micipsa, with the help of Greek colonists. She distinguished for the splendour of the public buildings and its population overcame that of all other towns of northern Africa. It had an army of 10,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry. In 113 BC the town was conquered by Jugurtha. Later it served as base of the Roman generals Caecilius Metellus Numidicus and Caius Marius. In 107 BC the latter gained a victory over Jugurtha in the nearby of Cirta. With the suppression of king Juba I and the rest of the supporters of Pompey in Africa (46 BC), Julius Caesar gave special civil rights to a part of Cirta, under the name of Sittlanorum Colonia. It became the head of a confederation of four similar settlements in North Africa. In 311, during the civil war between emperor Maxentius and usurper Domitius Alexander (former governor of Africa), the city was destroyed. Rebuilt in 313, it was subsequently named after emperor Constantine the Great, who had defeated Maxentius. Conquered by the Vandals in 432, Constantine returned to the Byzantine exarchate of North Africa from 534 to 697. It was conquered by the Arabs in the 7th century, receiving the name of Qusantina. The city recovered and in 12th century was again a prosperous market, with connection to Pisa, Genoa and Venice. Since 1529 it was intermittently part of Ottoman Empire, ruled by a Turkish bey (governor) subordinate to the dey of Algiers. Salah Bey, who ruled the city in 1770-1792, greatly embellished it and built much of the Muslim architecture still visible today. In 1826 ,the last Bey, Ahmed Bey ben Mohamed Chérif became the new head of state and led a fierce resistance against French occupation forces. By 13 October 1837 the territory was reconquered by France, and in 1848 it was incorporated into the colony of Algiers (Algeria). In World War II, during campaign in North Africa (1942-43), Constantine and the nearby city of Sétif were used by the Allied forces as operational bases. Last edited by santa_cruz; January 6th, 2009 at 01:39 AM.

January 6th, 2009, 01:32 AM	#6
CasaMor Kingdom of Morocco Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Casablanca الدار البيضاء Posts: 2,430	Wow, j'adore cette photo! __________________ Moroccan cities: Casablanca \| Rabat \| Marrakech \| Tangier \| Agadir \| Fez \| Oujda \| Tetouan \| Chefchaouen Travel To Europe-Travel To Asia-Travel To American-Travel To Middle East & North Africa

January 6th, 2009, 01:48 AM	#9
Metsada Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,005	WOW !!! Algeria deserves as many tourists as Turkey !!! Why don't you promote your country more? It's clearly one of the most beautiful countries in the world.... __________________ The worshippers of the Most Gracious are those who tread the earth gently, and when the ignorant speak to them, they only utter peace. 25:63

January 6th, 2009, 04:21 AM	#10
alitezar A Persian Delight Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,123	omg, I just love Algeira, so so so sooooooo beautiful __________________ TEHRAN/IRAN PICTURES Never Judge People of a Country By Their Government Iranian Boys & Iranian Girls Pictures

January 6th, 2009, 11:03 AM	#11
christos-greece Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 22,830	Very nice city __________________ Please visit my threads: urban showcase: Athens, Kalamata, Trikala, Thessaloniki and Rest of Greece Cityscapes: Amazing GREECE,Amazing GREECE .2 and also: Monte Carlo, Monaco - Andorra la Vella

January 6th, 2009, 01:15 AM	#2
santa_cruz BANNED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal,CA/Annaba,Al Posts: 1,780

January 6th, 2009, 01:24 AM	#3
santa_cruz BANNED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal,CA/Annaba,Al Posts: 1,780

January 6th, 2009, 01:27 AM	#4
santa_cruz BANNED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal,CA/Annaba,Al Posts: 1,780

January 6th, 2009, 01:31 AM	#5
santa_cruz BANNED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal,CA/Annaba,Al Posts: 1,780

January 6th, 2009, 01:35 AM	#7
*Arpels* Αλέξανδρος Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Guarda/Moita Posts: 49,106	beautiful, the city it was made over the ravins.

January 6th, 2009, 09:11 PM	#12
Daano Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rotterdam Posts: 274	another great Algerian city!

January 6th, 2009, 09:21 PM	#13
Galandar Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Vienna Posts: 3,024	What a beautiful city! __________________ BAKU -- The Crescent -- 203m -- 32-43fl -- U/C BAKU -- Flame Towers -- 235 m -- 34-39fl -- U/C BAKU -- Port Baku -- 120m -- 16-32fl -- U/C BAKU -- Sky Park -- 240m -- 35-56fl -- U/C Floating city Dubai - Bangkok Robinson - Bangkok trip

January 6th, 2009, 10:16 PM	#14
Gordion The great Anatolian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LONDON-ISTANBUL Posts: 1,770	Great city. __________________ Istanbul, European capital of culture 2010

January 7th, 2009, 07:52 AM	#15
santa_cruz BANNED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal,CA/Annaba,Al Posts: 1,780	thnx all

January 7th, 2009, 08:08 AM	#16
santa_cruz BANNED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal,CA/Annaba,Al Posts: 1,780

January 7th, 2009, 08:34 AM	#17
alitezar A Persian Delight Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,123	omg, absolutely breathtaking, Constantine by far is my most favorite city. The settings of the city is just breathtaking __________________ TEHRAN/IRAN PICTURES Never Judge People of a Country By Their Government Iranian Boys & Iranian Girls Pictures

January 7th, 2009, 08:42 AM	#19
santa_cruz BANNED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal,CA/Annaba,Al Posts: 1,780

January 7th, 2009, 08:45 AM	#20
santa_cruz BANNED Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal,CA/Annaba,Al Posts: 1,780	Some Aerial Shots

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