puce2.gif (71 octets) Tunis & its surroundings
 

Protected by a violet tinted lake covered with pearly winged flamingos; set against gently undulating hills and the " twin-horned mountain "Tunis, where " yesterday and today " seem to blend so naturally and intimately, offers us hospitality and the traditional good humour of its inhabitants…
A symphony of cupolas and terraces, harmonious and intelligent urban planning ,cool shadow, the vestiges and scent of the past, the heart of the old city the Medina .
The Medina is a world of living stone, a variety of sounds, of ancestral gestures,of hidden treasure, a city of a thousand colours which fascinates you, besets the soul, and enlivens the senses. You pass through one of the splendid and floridly decorated studded leaf doors and enter a dwelling where you can feel the presence of the spirits of men and women of another age :at the Dar Ben Abdellah (18th-19th century) there is a collection of house-hold implement, costumes and antique furniture set off against a most evocative decor.

 NORTH SUBURDS
  From the port of Goulette, with its Spanish for , through to the infinite dunes and beaches of Gammarth, the coasts of Carthage offer an infinite variety.
The coasts of Carthage stretch over 25kilometres . It has a rich diversity of attraction which include the wide range of hotels such as the tourist hotel ,the fishing port and holiday village of Sidi Bou Said ,and the boating facilities of Gammarth.
The coasts of Carthage-where the environment is truly held sacred. The forests of pine trees and mimosa from a natural setting for a style of architecture which respects nature in all its honesty.
Nature in return makes its contribution to health, in the form of all the new hot spring centres and other therapeutic facilities.
And the sea which laps the coasts of Carthage offers all of its countless benefits too.
Carthage is over three thousand years old and forms part of the heritage of the human race .
The cultural and economic influence of Carthage on the ancient world has been handed down through the centuries ,giving modern-day Tunisia its special values of tolerance, open-mindedness, and a readiness to adapt.
Sidi Bou Said ,Carthage's Archeological Park ,is an example of Tunisian President, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's willingness to acknowledge the importance of the site.
From the traces of Carthaginian culture at the Antonine hot springs to the Roman villas at the amphitheatre and the archeological museum, the park extends from the hillside to the coastline, providing visitors with the opportunity to stroll through lush surroundings, and the spirit can absorb the perfumed scents of the ages .
The first protected site in the world , perched on the Cliffside which dominates Carthage and the Gulf of Tunis , is the medieval village of Sidi Bou Said , a little paradise, adorned in the colours of the Mediterranean .
Strolling through its cobbled alleyways, visitors discover the delightful mixture of houses with their white lime exteriors , moucharaby balconies, and blue shuttersthat unique blue of Sidi Bou Said . The heavy, studded doors open into secret gardens carpeted with ceramics and encircled with bougainvilliers.

THE CAP BON PENINSULA
Just half an hour by car from Tunis-Carthage international airport lies a vast and sweet-smelling garden where jasmine, vines and roses mingle with orange and lemon trees bowing under the weight of their fruit.
This hand outstretched towards Europe, a symbol of an ancient tradition of welcome and hospitality, this region of fertile plains and low plateaux, just 140 km from Sicily, dips into the Mediterranean whose effects on the climate makes this one of those blessed regions where everything always seems better than anywhere else. The agricultural vocation of Cap Bon is coupled with its remarkable success in tourism.
Nabeul
As well as being the capital of Cap Bon, Nabeul is a well-known tourist resort, popular not only for its beautiful fine sandy beaches and its garden hotels, but above all for its inestimable attraction as the leading town for Tunisian craftsmanship, in particular its pottery.
Other crafts include embroidery, distillation of perfumes using ancient recipes (orange blossom, jasmine, geranium, etc.), esparto goods, wrought ironware and stone sculptures. A colourful market is held every week on a Friday.
Hammamet
Hammamet needs no introduction . This beauty spot is certainly the most famous symbol of Tunisia, where the charms of the sea, the sand, the sky, the sun, the palm trees and the orange trees combine to re-create the image which so many people have today of the ideal holiday spot. The town greedily embraces the sea, the charm of its emerald coast unfurling under an ever-perfect sky.
With its ramparts and fortress dating back to the fifteenth century , the old Medina offers the visitor the charm of its winding streets where the pace of life is slow and, in order not to spoil this quietude, the souk and all trading activity is restricted here to just one narrow alley.

Another equally famous monument is the international cultural centre which has been set up on land formerly owned by Georges Sébastien, a Roman aristocrat, with its open air theatre where a cultural festival is held every summer, attended by artists from all over the world.
Whether you are in Hammamet or Nabeul, you can quite easily tour Cap Bon in one day :
Beni Khiar, just outside Nabeul, is a village which specialises in spinning and weaving wool.Korba, a garden village, really comes alive in August with its youth theatre festival. Menzel Temime, is well-known for its capsicums (red and green peppers) which in the summer can be seen hanging up to dry in colourful garlands.Kelibia, a fishing port which is famous for its Muscat grapes and the wine made from them, for its Byzantine fortress dating back to the sixth century and its international amateur film festival which takes place every year. Kerkouane, is a Carthaginian site where excavation work has revealed the original layout of a perfectly-preserved Carthaginian settlement.
Haouaria, is a famous for its falconry, celebrated at its annual festival, and for its grottos at Ghar El Kéhir, ancient Roman quarries, the stone from which was used to build so many Roman towns. Korbous, is a spa whose waters are used to treat arthritic conditions, cellulite or hypertension as well as rheumatism and obesity. Soliman, famous for its produce, is a village which was built by the Andalusians in the seventeenth century and is therefore of great architectural interest. Grombalia, the last leg of the return journey, is famous for its agricultural fair and its wine-growing festival.

* Source National Office of Tunisian Tourism