TUNISIA, officially the Tunisian Republic, is a country situated on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa.

It is bordered by Algeria to the west and Libya to the southeast. An ideal climate, a long and gentle seacoast, Tunisia, the northernmost country of Africa has for over 3000 years witnessed the passage of Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Turks, Spanish and French. They came as fugitive s or adventurers, to conquer or to claim, warriors and missionaries, traders and farmers each leaving a part of their story in stone or mosaics, on hills of Carthage and the threshold of the Sahara.

This heritage, Tunisia’s greatest wealth, has been held in trust and preserved in hundreds of sites and museums from the small Punic museum in Utica to the vast collections of the prestigious National Museum of Bardo.

Most Museums are closed on Mondays, whereas many onsite archeological museums and ruins are open all week.

An entrance fee is usually charged and a caretaker will often act as guide.

Whatever the season, your first glimpse of Tunisia will be one of golden beaches and a deep blue sea. With over 1200 kilometers of coast this sunny Mediterranean land is a paradise for the vacationer. Well known seaside resort areas such as Sousse, Monastir, Hammamet and Nabeul, Djerba and Tabarka offer their visitors the finest sand beaches and crystalline water along with a dizzying choice of waterfront hotels featuring sun and sea sports as windsurfing and sailing, underwater sightseeing, fishing and short boat rides. Nearly Hotels are built with the visitor’s comfort and enjoyment in mind and their restaurants feature both international as well as Tunisian Cuisine.

During the peak summer season no effort is spared to provide the maximum of activities at the hotel and throughout the region. Summer festivals held nearby invite you to join in with your Tunisian hosts to celebrate Father Neptune, share their local folklore, enjoy a concert or just have fun. Feeling guilty about the long lazy days spent in delicious idleness bronzing on the beach? Often an hours drive from these modern resorts will bring you to another Tunisia, one of ancient Roman, Arab, Berber or Phoenician sites.

Reminders of this rich historical past abound and visitors will return again and again captivated by the diversity of this Mediterranean land. Ask at your hotel for guided tours and information. The Tunisian Tourist offices in most European capitals or in all major cities in Tunisia can supply a list of Guides, maps, brochures, and advice to help you plan an unforgettable vacation.

TUNIS
One hour from Hammamet, Tunis takes you by surprise with its modern conference halls, hotels and banks, bright yellow taxis rushing passengers to a business lunch, all the hustle and bustle of a modern Mediterranean city. Steel and glass blend with the baroque, palm trees look down on chic boutiques, gardens and cafés. Begin at the monument of November 7, which marks Tunisia’s turn towards the future, stroll down shady tree lined Avenue Habib Bourguiba, with its flower stands , passing bookstores and galleries. Beyond the Cathedral and the statue of Ibn Khaldoun, looms the gateway to the ancient Medina. As you enter the narrow streets , centuries slip away and, like Alice, step into the looking glass to another world. Small shops, their treasures of brass, olive wood, leather and brightly colored garments spill out into the street. Souvenirs, antiques, berber jewelry , carpets and pottery vie for your attention. Continue, if you can resist their lures, upwards towards the Mosque of the Olive Tree, Ez Zitouna, as old as the town itself and the heart of the Medina. Rebuilt in the 9th century, the Ez Zitouna was for centuries the focal point of life in the Arab city as urban planning decreed the order in which the different trades were placed, and the most noble, booksellers, perfumeries, dried fruits sellers and cloth merchants held the privilege of proximity to the Mosque. Today one can still see traces of this tradition - the Souk of the Perfumes, traditional clothing shops, almond and spice sellers are still located alongside its walls. The medina, or city, is a wealth of ancient palaces, mosques and centers of trade and learning, a living museum.

Dar Ben Abdullah, Dar Hussein, Dar El Bey,Dar El Jeld, Dar El Haddad, Dar Othman, once residences of wealthy traders or ministers now house cultural centers, restaurants or government agencies.

Picture: This amphitheater located in El Djem is one of the beautiful Roman remains in Tunisia. It could accommodate 30,000 people.