The capital of the Numidian Kingdom, the centre of the Roman Empire province, the favorite city of Constantine the Great, the largest trade centre of the Ottoman Empire, and the city of suspension bridges built on Roman ruins. The Algerian city of Constantine has an ancient history and rich culture. Historians study it by reading books and looking at artifacts, while curious tourists visit the city sights. But to understand the life of this city, you need to learn its history, you need to start with its origin and go all the way through hundreds of years.

The earliest evidence left by the former inhabitants of Constantine are presented in the National Museum of Cirta, called after the city's first name, when it was part of the Numidian Kingdom, before the dominion of the Roman Empire. The building in the Greco-Roman style was built by the famous architect Cestelli in 1931. In 1975, when Algeria got its independence, its collection of archaeological finds was recognized as the country heritage, and the museum acquired the status of national.

There you can see exhibits of different historical periods: prehistoric, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and colonial. Pay attention to the finds from the reign of King Massinissa. These are a coin depicting the Numidian king and a terracotta figure from a tomb of the 2nd century BC. The Epoque of the Cirta annexation by the Roman Empire is presented by stone stelae, showing the influence of Carthage on the local beliefs at that time. In total, 12 halls of the museum are keeping the exhibits of the archaeological collection. The ethnographic area is also impressive. There you can learn the life and culture of the local population: traditional costumes, jewelry, old carpets, weapons, and numerous manuscripts of different times. The Cirta Museum has a fine art gallery with works by famous masters of the 17th-20th centuries. You can enjoy paintings of Gabriel Ferrier, Eugène Fromentin, and Eddine Dinet.