Tunis is a wonderful tourist destination, situated alongside the Mediterranean Sea. Although it does not have an extensive length of beaches, it enjoys the pleasant climate and views of a seaside locations as well as easy access to numerous historic and cultural attractions. The city dates back to at least the 4th century B.C., so you can imagine how many different influences and cultures it has seen over the years. From the Berbers to the Numidians to the Romans, the story of Tunis is filled with interesting and noteworthy events. |
|
The city itself is smaller than most other tourist destinations in North Africa, and as such is a terrific place to stay and experience the culture firsthand. While the fancier resorts located to the north and south of Tunis are very popular and filled with tourists, Tunis remains a relatively quiet place that is pleasant all year round. It is generally divided into two parts - the old city (called the medina) and the newer, more modern area of the city called ville nouvelle.
Most visitors focus their time in the medina because it is where so many of the historic buildings and sites are located; in fact, by some counts there are over 700 such sites including palaces, mosques, monuments, and more. Examples include the Aghlabid Ez-Zitouna Mosque, also known as the Mosque of the Olive, which was originally built in the year 723 A.D.; the Dar-al-Bey, also known as Bey's Palace; and many other structures that combine to make the medina one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
The Bardo Museum is another popular place to visit. The building itself was once the palace of an Ottoman ruler and it features some wonderful mosaics of Roman design and influence. The collection of artefacts, items, and historic presentations in the museum are extensive and comprehensive, covering nearly all of the history of Tunis. The information presented includes exhibits from the Roman period, Carthage, and a really good overview of Arabian culture from history right up through modern times.
We mentioned the Aghlabid Ez-Zitouna Mosque a bit earlier, and it is well worth talking a bit more about. The mosque itself is somewhat of a landmark in Tunis, especially the large minaret that was added to the structure in the late 19th century. Its unique square shape is unusual and worth seeing up close. Visitors are expected to dress in modest clothing, and although people of all faiths are welcome in the courtyard areas, only Muslims are allowed to enter the mosque itself.
While Tunis is generally a friendly and safe place to visit, you should be aware of the recurrent scams that some less scrupulous people will attempt with visitors. The most common of these is to approach a tourist and become their "friend"; the friend follows the tourist everywhere, coming across as genuine but soon asking for money, food, or other similar things. Because they are so friendly, many visitors find it difficult to say "no" to these requests and unfortunately end up with numerous "friends" following them around throughout the day. The people of Tunis are typically very nice and helpful to tourists, but you should be cautious about any who appear too friendly or too aggressive about helping you in any way.
The Tunis-Carthage Airport is close to the city proper, but is not a major international airport. Many holiday travellers prefer to fly into one of the larger airports at Naples or Marseilles, and then take one of the numerous ferries that connect from there into Tunis. Within Tunis itself, there is an excellent public transportation system that can get you wherever you want to go in the city. Taxis are also commonly available, but be sure to agree on the cost in advance.
Wiki:- Tunis
|
