Country: Algeria

Algeria is a North African country with a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea and a desert interior, the Sahara. Many empires have left their mark here, such as the ancient Roman ruins of Tipasa, along the coast. In the capital, Algiers, Ottoman sites, such as the Ketchaoua Mosque, dating from around 1612, line the Casbah district. Perched on a hill, this place features narrow lanes and stairways. The Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, with neo-Byzantine architecture, dates from the French colonial era.