Place des Martyrs

Place des Martyrs occupies the flat ground between the port and the foot of the Casbah. This is the oldest part of the city — the area was continuously inhabited from Roman times — and the square itself has been a focal point since the Arab period. The name honours those killed during the colonial period and the war of independence.

The square is the best starting point for a walk up into the Casbah. From here the hill rises steeply and the old city begins almost immediately. The tram line passes through the square, making it easy to reach from the city centre.

things to do sight
A story
The square sits where the ancient port of Icosium once stood — the Phoenician and then Roman settlement that preceded the Arab city of Algiers by more than a millennium. Roman foundations were found during construction work here, and some can still be seen in the underpasses beneath the square.