Early archaeological enthusiasts at Carthage were drawn in search of the city of Dido and Hannibal. Although the Romans had destroyed the Punic city in 146 BCE, travellers, antiquarians, and proto-archaeologists set out with the intention of looking for whatever remains could be found. I will explore some of the colourful visitors who came to Carthage in search of the lost city and will assess what they found there in their sojourns between the 12th and the 20th centuries.