Traveling through Tunisia. Tunisia with a guide and on your own. Review of Thalassa Mahdia - pros and cons

Bright blue shutters against the background of white walls, intricate narrow streets of ancient city blocks, sandy beaches and colorful oriental bazaars, ruins of ancient cities and modern thalassotherapy centers are sure signs that you are traveling through Tunisia. A small state in the north is washed by Mediterranean Sea and is considered the most civilized in the region. The Arab republic inherited a certain European gloss from, under whose protectorate it was for quite a long time.

Important points

• To visit the country for tourism purposes, a Russian citizen does not require a visa.
• Driving a rental car into desert areas not only requires a special vehicle and permit, but can also be quite dangerous during dust storms and without solid navigation equipment and driving experience.
• Traveling to Tunisia during the month of Ramadan requires especially respect for the customs of the local residents.

Choosing wings

A direct flight from most resorts lasts about 4 hours, and a flight with a transfer to other European airports will take from 6 hours, but may be more affordable.
Charters land at Tunisian airports during peak beach season almost daily and deliver passengers to the Mediterranean beaches not only from Moscow, but also from St. Petersburg, Nizhny, and others Russian cities.
The cost of a regular flight from Moscow to the capital of Tunisia starts from $300.

One step from the sea

The hotel fund in Tunisia is perhaps the only negative in the list of arguments for or against travel. Firstly, when declaring the hotel category, local organizers do not adhere to world standards and “treshka” most often offers hotel conditions of a rank or even two lower. Studying the reviews of previous guests is a real way to avoid surprises and troubles when checking in and staying. The second serious disadvantage is the lack of security on the territory of inexpensive hotels, and therefore the increased attention of local residents to their guests is ensured both day and night.
A night in a "three ruble" in Sousse or for tourists will cost $45-55, while the hotel will be located a minute's walk from the beach, have an outdoor pool, several cafes and restaurants, wireless Internet, animation, and breakfast will be included in the price. Many hotels operate on an all-inclusive basis in Tunisian resorts, and you can stay in a 4* with this type of food for $90-100.

Transport details

The railway connection between the cities of Tunisia is developed enough to use this type of transport to travel around the country. Tickets are purchased at stations and the cheapest fare is in second class carriages. It is more comfortable to travel in the first one, thanks to air conditioning and soft seats. Tickets are sold at ticket offices at stations and train stations.
It is convenient to pay for travel on city buses from the conductor, and from the driver on minibuses. The fare is from 0.5 to 1 $. Intercity cars minibus taxis They have a red stripe on the side, and the cost of travel, depending on the distance between settlements, ranges from $2 to $3.
You can rent the simplest car in Tunisia for $40 per day, but the driving style of local motorists leaves much to be desired.
Taxi services are regulated by a meter and the price per kilometer is about $0.4. From 9 pm to 5 am, prices increase by half.

Nightingales are not fed fables

Tunisian cuisine is a hundred and one tuna dishes, signature tea with mint and pine nuts, aromatic lamb, delicious couscous and stewed vegetables with amazing oriental spices.
You can have a quick snack in street cafes, where for $1-2 you will be served half a crispy French baguette with meat, fish, salad and a huge amount of fresh vegetables. A serious lunch with a change of dishes for two will cost from $20 to $35 depending on the establishment. There are expensive restaurants in Tunisia, but the quality of food preparation in them is no better than in authentic cafes, where much is prepared directly on the street grill.
Ice in drinks in Tunisia should not be avoided. Even tap water here is of very decent quality. Remember the penchant of Tunisian cooks to use spices, including hot red pepper. Be interested in the degree of spiciness of dishes and use the coveted “no spice” more often.
Oriental coffee readily competes with signature Tunisian tea. People in the country love to drink it and cook it.

Useful details

• When exchanging currency, be sure to keep your receipt. It will help you exchange unspent dinars for dollars or euros when flying from Tunisia.
• Huge portions in Tunisian cafes are quite suitable for an order for two. Just ask for an extra plate and utensils and enjoy your meal. In addition, the main course is accompanied by a number of appetizers from pickled vegetables, olives, fish, which the client receives at the expense of the establishment.
• A liberal attitude towards alcohol is observed everywhere in Tunisia. Alcohol can be ordered in a restaurant or bought in a store, and in the town of Grombalia, where central square A monument in the shape of a bunch of grapes has been erected, and a wine festival is even held annually in September.
• Traditional purchases and souvenirs in Tunisia include leather goods, olive oil and dates. If the store has a Fixed price sign, bargaining is pointless, but in the market, with due persistence and a polite attitude towards the seller, it is possible to reduce the price by half or more.
• Sightseeing can be arranged with the help of local taxi drivers. The price is from $30 per car, the trip duration is about three hours.

The perfect trip to Tunisia

The Mediterranean climate on the Tunisian coast provides a comfortable beach holiday weather throughout the spring, summer and most of the fall. The swimming season in Tunisia starts in the second half of May and lasts until the first days of November, and temperatures up to +35°C at the height of July and August are easily tolerated due to low humidity.
Early spring and even winter are ideal for treatment in thalassotherapy centers. In the low season, the prices for procedures, hotels and food become the same, and you can undergo a course of beauty treatments inexpensively and with greater comfort than in high summer.

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Route "Tunisian Switzerland"
Tunis - Medjez el Bab - Tebursouk (Dougga) - El Fahs - (Touburbo Mahjous) - Zagwan - Mohammedia - Tunisia (253 km)
Three of the most significant Roman excavation sites in Tunisia are located on this road, passing through the fertile valley of the Medjerda River. If you go by car, it will be a very interesting one-day excursion. If you use public transport, the route should be divided into two parts. Restaurants and cafes along the road satisfy only the most modest requirements. So for those who want to use the services of their hotel’s kitchen along the route, it’s better to stock up on lunch bags.
From Tunisia the route goes west to Medjez el Bab (15,000 inhabitants), 58 km, a completely modern provincial town. The neighboring town of Teboursouk, 112 km, is a charming place located on the ued of the same name. Anyone traveling by public transport will need to take a taxi here for the ride (approximately 8 km) to the excavation site.

Dougga. The most beautiful ruins in Tunisia are located at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by brilliant silver-gray olive trees and flowering bushes. In the village of Thongga, originally Numidian, starting from the 2nd century. BC. lived refugees from the destroyed Carthage, and then, finally, the Romans. Dougga fell into decline in the 5th century AD, shaken by economic problems that created the preconditions for uprisings throughout the province of Africa.

Immediately at the entrance rises the powerful semicircle of the theater, built in 168 AD. and designed for 3500 spectators. In the architecture of the basements located under the rows of seats, one can discern a technique, using which Europeans in the early Middle Ages learned to build pointed Gothic vaults. This technique consists in the fact that the vaults are mounted from separate conical ceramic tubes inserted into each other, forming ribs. The necessary stability of the arches is given by the tension arising in the ribs and the binding solution. Individual arches are placed one after another and plastered so that the arch is formed without any additional supports. By crossing the ribs using the same simple Roman-African technique, the vault is formed. As a result of the conquest of Spain by the Arabs, this technology eventually reached Europe.

In front of the forum of the Roman city, you cross the Piazza del Rose des Compassos, with the twelve winds carved into it. The perfectly preserved portico of the Capitoline Temple (166 - 167) rises above the square. On the pediment of the temple there is an eagle carrying a man into the sky, which must be the Emperor Antoninus Pius. Past ruined Byzantine buildings, the road leads to the forum with the temple of Saturn and the Arch of Alexander Severus (288 AD) and further to the sanctuary of Juno Celeste, a peculiar structure whose semicircular shape recalls the “lunar” symbolism of the Punic goddess Tanit. Consequently, the Punic woman was still revered in the image of the Roman Juno Celeste.

In the southern part of the city there are magnificent private villas, such as the Villa of the Seasons and the Villa of the Trefoil, located 5 m below ground level and received their names from the unique mosaics (partially transferred to the Bardo Museum) - The Triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus is also located there. In the valley below the ruins, a cultural monument of the Numidian inhabitants of Dugga - the mausoleum of the Numidian prince Ataban - catches the eye. This three-story tower was built in the 2nd century. BC. Using a tablet with Punic and Numidian inscriptions found here, it was proven that the Numidians used the same alphabet that the Tuaregs of the Central Sahara, who speak one of the Berber dialects, still use today. This confirms that the ancestors of the Berbers were the indigenous people of North Africa.

El Fahs (10,000 inhabitants), 173 km, starting point for visiting the second most important excavation site in North Africa, founded at the very end of the 1st century. BC. Roman city.

Thuburbo Majus, like Dugga, arose near a pre-existing Punic settlement. Already from afar, the Corinthian columns of the palaestra (gymnastic school for boys) in Thuburbo are visible, rising above the hilly terrain. The city experienced its heyday in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. AD and was inhabited until the invasion of the Arabs.

The almost square area of ​​the forum with the Capitol was the center of Roman Tuburbo. In the market square adjacent to the forum, traces of the tiny shops that filled it are clearly visible. Well, where there is trade, the god Mercury is not far away; the forecourt of his temple between the Capitol and the market has the shape of a clover leaf (trefoil), which goes back to the Punian tradition.

The second most important object of inspection is located in the southwest of the forum - this is the palaestra of the Petroni family and the baths adjacent to it. Built in 225 AD. By the Petronian family, the gymnasium was decorated with a truly royal portico with a Corinthian colonnade. Carved in one of the corners of the courtyard, the “Game of 36 Letters” served to train the spirit in between physical exercises. The baths and temple of Aesculapius complement the Tuburbo healing center.

A strange impression is made by the stone pillars-supports, as if growing at every step from the ruins of the foundations. These are the remains of buildings built in a way that was not used in Rome, the so-called. "opus africanum" ("African invention"). Rome took it over from the defeated Punics. The gaps between the supports were filled with rubble stone. This is how a fairly economical way of building residential buildings and villas arose.

Zaghouan, 198 km, with the idyllic Water Temple, is worth visiting especially for its surrounding landscape.

The sanctuary of river nymphs, called the Temple of Waters, is hidden under the cliff of the mighty Mount Zagvan (1295 m) about 2 km from the town of the same name. In the basin of the temple, under the watchful gaze of Neptune and his Nereids, the waters of the springs were collected and sent through the aqueduct to Carthage. The statues of the deities have long since disappeared, and yet, probably, every visitor to this sanctuary is in awe of the great value of water and the level of technology of Ancient Rome.

Prince Pückler-Muskau, visiting at the end of the 19th century. Zagwan massif, called it “Tunisian Switzerland”. To the saddle of the mountain, where today there is a rough road, he followed the tracks of lions and competed in rock climbing with his Tunisian guides. Anyone who ventures on foot or by Land Rover up to the summit will be treated to magnificent views along the way of the Bay of Hammamet and the Gulf of Tunis, with Cap Bon in between.

Mohammedia, 238 km, in the middle of the 19th century. was supposed to become the residence of the beys. However, Bey Ahmed's attempt to reproduce the Palace of Versailles in Tunisia failed. The ruins remaining from this palace do not deserve much attention, but the arches of the Roman aqueduct running parallel to the RZ highway south of Mohammedia are admirable. Water pipes the size of a man supplied Tunisia with drinking water from Zagwan until the 14th century.
There are still 15 km left to the starting point of Tunisia, 253 km.

Route "Krumiri"
Tabarka - Nefza - Beja (Trajan's Bridge) - Jenduba - Bulla Regia/Shemtu - Ain Draham - Tabarka (181 km)
And this route is laid through places bearing the imprint of Roman culture. Starting from the youngest tourist center of Tunisia,
Tabarki, the road leads into the mountainous country of Krumiri to excavation sites that allow you to get acquainted with the magnificent villas of the Roman era and at the same time the simple architecture of residential buildings of that time. You can travel the route by car in one day; on public transport - for two.
The route begins and ends in a city located in the north-west of Tunisia.

Tabarka (Tabarka; 8000 inhabitants). Since the 60s. This favorite place holidays for Tunisians and French at sea. Since 1992, this town on the northern coast has also been a starting point for group tourist trips. Thanks to the construction of the airport and the implementation of gigantic hotel projects supported by the Tunisian Ministry of Tourism, Tabarka is becoming a popular seaside resort.

Apart from the Genoese fortress and a group of rocks of a very bizarre shape, which are called the Needles, there are no attractions in Tabarka in the western bay. The territory adjacent to it is all the more interesting, within which you can hunt wild boars, jackals and a wide variety of birds.

The coast of Tabarka, the “coral coast”, is very popular among divers. The pleasure that both divers and diving enthusiasts get here cannot be spoiled by either sewage or motor boats. Golf lovers can play this game on the 18-hole course.

Nefza, 32 km, an important market center for farmers in the region; however, when modern look it is hardly of interest to tourists. The road leading to Beja goes south from the main one and then passes through mountainous terrain, which in Roman times was famous for the fertility of its soils. Here passed one of the most important trade routes of Roman Africa, leading from Carthage through Bulla Regia to Tevesta, today's Algerian Tebessa . One of the last reminders of this road is the Trajan Bridge, 70 km, located near the cheerful town of Beja. It is currently flooded by the waters of the Sidi Salem reservoir. It must be said that the approach to the bridge is quite difficult (first - exit from the Beja - Jenduba road in the direction of "Maagoula", and then turn right onto the road leading to Beja oed). The bridge was supposedly built in 29 AD. under Emperor Tiberius, and then was repaired several times. Three massive stone pillars support the weight of this surprisingly well-preserved structure.

The town of Jendouba, 119 km is the starting point for travel to the village of Bulla Regia, approximately 7 km to the northeast. Before Roman colonists settled in Bulla Reshi, Numidians and Punics lived here. The town's extreme wealth was due to its location in the heart of the grain-producing region, and also on the Roman road leading to Tevesta. Wealthy families built underground floors in their houses, which were cool during the day. Some of the Bardo Museum's finest mosaics come from these "dungeons" of the Bulla Regia.

At the entrance to the town you can see the Byzantine fortress and built in 189 AD. Baths of Julia Memmia. The baths had a large pool, around which there were lounges. The mosaic decorating the floor depicts a labyrinth. Further, on the left along the way, you can see the ruins of an early Christian basilica. The most significant landmarks
Bulla Regia are villas of the 3rd-4th centuries (Their underground floors are sometimes closed, and therefore you should seek help from a caretaker.) These include the villa of mosaics, the peacock house, the hunting house, the fishing house, the palace of Amphitrite. The return route passes by the forum, on which the temple of Apollo and the theater are located.

Chemtou, ancient Mimittus, located approximately 30 km northwest of Jendouba, can only be reached by a dirt road. In the depths of the Jebel Shemtu mountain range since the 2nd century BC. The Numidians mined marble, which was highly valued in the Roman Empire. In Roman times, a whole work camp arose at the foot of this ridge. The Roman settlement, located on the other side of the ridge, has not yet been sufficiently explored. The hydraulic press for oil production found in these places is surprising.

The marble was apparently found in the 2nd century. BC. during the construction of the Numidian sanctuary, located on the top of the mountain. By the Romans it was turned into a temple of Saturn, by Christians into a basilica; now only ruins remain. In Shemta, the improvised archaeological camp located in it is also of interest. A small museum with interesting reliefs from the sanctuary mentioned above is open only by prior arrangement.

Ain - Draham, 156 km, can be seen as a kind of "contrast program" for Central Europeans suffering from nostalgia. The fact is that the complex of medicinal baths, located in a dense cork oak forest, could just as easily be located in Switzerland. Hiking trails pass through delightful terrain, where in the autumn and winter months you can hunt wild boars, jackals, and foxes (hunting permits are issued by the Tunisian Hunting Union).

Route "Around Cape Bon"
Hammamet - Nabeul - Kelibia - Kerkouan - El Aouaria - Sidi Daoud - Korbus - Soliman - Grombalia - Hammamet (213 km)
The Cap Bon area is one of the most fertile and most beautiful areas of Tunisia. A circular tour around the cape allows the tourist to successfully combine impressions of landscapes, archaeological excavations and local cuisine. You can travel this route by car in one day, by public transport in two, dividing the route into two stages.

Starting in the Hammamet-Nabeul area, the road runs along the coast through busy towns.

Kelibia (Kelibiaj, 70 km) attracts the traveler's attention from afar with its fortress, towering over a small, calm fishing village. Traces of settlement here date back to Punic times. The fortress was founded by the Byzantines; in the 13th century it was completely rebuilt by the Hafsids. The wonderful sandy beaches in the bay at the foot of the cliff with the fortress standing on it are almost undeveloped. If the Tunisian-Italian project “Kelibia La Blanche” is implemented, then soon a second “Port El Kantaoui” will apparently appear here.

Currently, in Kelibia restaurants you can eat well, firstly, and at quite reasonable prices, secondly. You should definitely try the exquisite white Muscat de Kelibia.

The results of excavations at Kerkouane, 83 km, located about 13 km from Kelibia, represent something of an archaeological sensation. At first glance, the excavation sites look somewhat disappointing, since apart from the foundations of ordinary residential buildings there seems to be nothing to see. However, tourists should keep in mind that in this case they are standing in front of the only Punic city that archaeologists have so far found in Tunisia. Tourists who have enough time to observe can make an interesting discovery: the Punics - unlike the Romans - did not build public baths (therms): each house had sanitary and hygienic equipment, and each house was, accordingly, connected to the sewer network. The stone-hewn sitz baths look downright tiny. However, the foundations of the houses look just as small - compared to the pompous Roman villas of Carthage and Utica. Archaeologists are not yet able to answer the question of whether the Kerkuans were rich or poor. In any case, they knew such a very expensive dye as purple, extracted from a certain type of mollusk (quillfish) that had rotted on the shore. The places where purple was made were found by archaeologists near the city. The City Museum displays the best of Kerkouan's archaeological finds, with beautifully designed exhibitions.

Sidi Daoud, 102 km, located on west coast peninsula Basic income local residents get from tuna fishing, or rather hunting it. Each such hunt is a bloody spectacle that attracts crowds of curious people to this faceless village. In particular, at the end of the 19th century. French writer Guy de Maupassant called these fishing matanzas in Sidi Daoud (and in general on east coast Tunisia) “monstrously exciting.”
The meaning of matanzas is that tuna - through a system of tops and nets - are driven into special chambers, where they are slaughtered using a machete.

Kourbous, 156 km. A resort you can only dream of. The Roman nobility sought healing here. Warm mineral springs were forgotten for a long time - until the Husseinids returned them to their former glory.

Habib Bourguiba owned a small villa in Corbus. It makes sense to also explore the wellness center located in former palace Husseinids, where tourists can improve their health on waters containing mineral salts. It is possible that over the years the local miracle cure for infertility, the “zerzikha” stone, which has been used for centuries, will lose its power. This stone block, polished over centuries, promises every woman who makes her way under it to find the happiness of motherhood in the near future.

In Corbus, the cliffs drop steeply into the crystal clear sea. Over a stretch of approximately 12 km, the coastal road takes dizzying turns, winding through rugged terrain not typical of the so hospitable Cap Bon.

Soliman, 174 km. The last stop on the route around Cap Bon. The town was founded at the beginning of the 17th century. as a place of settlement for refugees from Andalusia. In many parts of the village, the Andalusian-Moorish heritage still manifests itself. This is a minaret decorated with tiles, these are wonderful balconies, these are bars on the windows of residential buildings. The village got its name from a certain large landowner, a Turk by origin, who settled here around 1600. Soliman is an important trading center. It is famous for its fertile lands, which provide the capital with wine, vegetables and fruits.
From Soliman the road goes to the main settlement of the "Garden of Tunis", the industrial town of Grombalia, 145 km, with a lively market trading on Mondays. From here you can return to Hammamet, 213 km, by motorway or along the P1 highway.

Route "At Cape Africa"
Sousse - Mahdia - El Jem - Sousse (178km)
This route takes you to Mahdia, a town known in the past as a pirate's nest, as well as to the monumental amphitheater at El Jem. You can travel the route in one day using public transport.

From Sousse the road goes to Monastir, the outskirts of which almost imperceptibly turn into a continuous chain of poor villages. The entire economy of this area is based on olive processing. Everywhere you look, oily black olives and oil-pressing waste, which in former times were processed into soap or animal feed, lie on the roadsides. In Ksar Hellal, the grandiose main square is a reminder that the New Destour party was founded here in 1934.

Approximately 50 km after Monastir, the next beach area begins - Mahdia Nord.

Mahdia (28,000 inhabitants), 73 km, the most important fishing port of Tunisia. The part of this vibrant provincial capital that is of interest to tourists is hidden behind the very impressive Dark Gate (Scyfa el-Qala), through which passes the only route from the New Town to the Old.

Cape Africa was also used by the Phoenicians and Romans for settlements. In the 10th century AD The Fatimids, who fought under Shiite slogans, appreciated the strategically convenient position of the above-mentioned peninsula, which they called “Cape Ifriqiya,” and chose it as their new capital. The narrow passage, which made it difficult to access the peninsula from the continent, was protected by walls that covered the new residence of the Fatimid caliph. named Obaid Allah, who called himself Mahdi, i.e. called by God. However, Mahdia did not enjoy the favors of the new masters for long; Thanks to their ambition, they managed to conquer powerful Egypt, which they turned into the center of their caliphate.

In the forty-meter long tunnel with many turns passing through this gate-fortress - Skifa el-Qala - a city bazaar is held once a week. Every Friday, the women of Mahdia lay out their wonderful products - embroidery and fabrics - here. Making silk fabrics is a traditional occupation of men, who can be seen sitting in tiny workshops at powerful looms, creating masterpieces from gold and silver threads. Walking through the narrow alleys of the citadel, you will often admire these traditional products of Tunisian craftsmen.

And far ahead, almost at the very top of the cape, Borj el-Kebir, a fortress built in the 16th century, rushes towards the sky. and rebuilt several times in the 18th century. Standing on the battlements, you can see the picturesque cemetery stretching to the lighthouse. In 1926, an antique trading ship carrying Greek columns and statues was raised off the coast of the peninsula.

Beyond Mahdia, the highway first passes through industrial suburbs, and then again through olive plantations - into the interior of the mainland, towards El - Djem (115 km). In 238 AD The ancient Tisdrus initiated the so-called Gordian revolt, which reflected the discontent of local large landowners with the new taxes imposed by Rome. In the flat Sahel, you can already notice from afar the symbol of El Jem - a giant amphitheater. During performances it could accommodate 30,000 spectators. However, its construction was interrupted due to the uprising and was never resumed. Tourists are advised to find time to visit it: cells for those sentenced to death, cages for predators, rooms for gladiators waiting to be called into the arena - all this can still be very clearly distinguished among the ruins.

Route Djerba Island
Houmt Souk - Midoun - El Qantara - Tellala - El May - La Ghriba - Houmt Souk (70 km)
Djerba, that's enough big Island(514 sq. km), where Odysseus once almost forgot about the final goal of his journey, now annually attracts almost half a million tourists from the countries of “cold” Europe to its many kilometers of sandy beaches.
And behind the fashionable coastal hotels lies ancient Djerba, where different religious communities coexist peacefully.

You can also tour the island by bicycle - in several stages of one day each (bicycles can be rented at hotels or in the town of Houmt Souk). Motorists can cross to Djerba by ferry from the village of Jorf. From the southern or eastern side, you can get to the island along a Roman causeway, restored in later times, laid between El Kantara Conti- nental and its island twin, El Kantara Ile. The speed limit for cars on the island is 60 km/h.

The main city of the island is called Houmt - Souk (25,000 zhit), which means “Market Quarter”. This name is associated with the way of life of the inhabitants of Djerba: on the island with its vast fertile plains, each family lived for centuries in a private estate with gardens and olive groves. Neighbors met at the market, which was open on certain days of the week; Local traders settled there, as well as foreigners, and a whole town arose there.

In Houmt Souk, the territory of a small busy bazaar, which primarily offers souvenirs to tourists, is limited by two mosques built in the 17th century. Djerba is famous both for its textiles and for the work of the most skilled jewelers, many of whom belong to the Jewish community. There are shops here and there in the wall niches selling everyday goods, so wandering around the bazaar will allow you to get some very interesting experiences, seeing, for example, watching the lively fish auction take place. Mondays and Thursdays are market days here. Previously, merchants spent the night in special inns, hazelnuts, where they also stored their goods with full confidence in their safety. Nowadays, some hazelnuts are used as simple, but very colorful hotels.

In the city harbor, a building built in the 15th century can tell about the history of the island. Borj el-Kebir fortress In 1560, the notorious corsair Dragut ordered the construction in front of it of the so-called Tower of Skulls, made from the bones of the Spaniards killed in battles. And before him, the Normans, Spaniards, and representatives of some Tunisian dynasties claimed the island. The inhabitants of Djerba fought desperately against the foreign yoke; even today they are considered especially prone to rebellion.

A favorite place for tourists to walk is Sidi Mahrez beach. For approximately 10 km, hotels, cozy apartments, and bungalows mercilessly bite into the interior of the island. Behind the lighthouse located on Cape Ras Taguerness, the picture changes: from here to south direction along Seguia beach (Plagedela Seguia) there is a strip of hotels that look more sophisticated and provide their guests with the ideal opportunity to combine all the available beach pleasures in truly paradisiacal conditions with interesting excursions, including trips to the south of Tunisia.

El Kantara lie 36 km. The largest village on the island; in ancient Roman times it was called Meninx. The village arose on the site of an earlier Phoenician settlement. Roman and perhaps even Phoenician builders knew that the isthmus between the island and the village of El Kantara Continental (on the mainland) could be turned into a dam. The modern dam between El Kantara Il and the mainland follows the route of its ancient predecessor, which existed until 1551, until it was destroyed by the corsair Dragut.

The village of Guellala, 49 km, is located in the most high point island (60 m above sea level), and its inhabitants preserve the secrets of ancient pottery, which in almost the rest of Tunisia fell victim to the flood of pottery from Nabeul.
In Guellala, unglazed vessels for storing food are made, the model for which is undoubtedly antique amphorae

In the north of the island is the town of Er Riadh (63 km), formerly called Hara Seghira. Here is the most revered of the island's religious buildings - the La Griba Synagogue. The ancestors of the Jews living on Djerba apparently moved to the island after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. Other legends say they fled west out of fear of the Romans in 70 AD. One way or another, there are Jewish communities in many cities of Tunisia. Previously, Jews enjoyed very significant influence in the bazaars, concentrating in their hands the trade in fabrics and, for the most part, the trade in jewelry. Many refugees forced to emigrate from Andalusia as a result of the Reconquista also practiced Judaism. Following the founding of the State of Israel and the subsequent rise in tensions between Israel and the Arab states, the bulk of North African Jews fled their homeland. Only a few thousand remain. Now the synagogue of La Ghriba (the word has two meanings: “Miracle” and “Stranger”) is the most important site of Jewish pilgrimage to the island of Djerba.

Before entering the synagogue, you should cover your head (scarves and men's hats are provided) and remove your shoes. The building is decorated with carvings and stained glass windows. Torah scrolls, which are among the oldest known in the world of Judaism, are not shown to visitors.

Route "Through Chott el-Jerid"
Tozeur-Kebipi - Douz - Tozeur (252 km)
The insidiousness of the damp salt marsh of Chott el-Jerid is rumored in Douz, where on Thursdays a market is held, which is one of the most colorful and most impressive in the region. The trip takes one day (the same for public transport); the detour through Gafsa and the phosphate mining area near Metlawi requires an overnight stay in Douz and can only be accomplished by car.

After Tozeur, the C106 highway passes through flowering oasis gardens and small villages. The largest oasis on the way, Degache, has no attractions. Next, the road leads towards the wet salt marsh of Chott el-Jerid. Back in the 70s. this salt marsh could only be crossed along one road, which in winter, after rains, often became impassable. Nowadays, after the construction of the dam, traveling through the salt marsh is no longer a problem; however, leaving the road still poses dangers.

A chain of small villages leads tourists to the administrative center of the Nefzaoua oasis - Kebili, 126 km. The semi-nomads who graze their herds in the vicinity of the city of Douz belong to the Marazigh tribe. Every Thursday they, as well as peasants from neighboring oases, come to Douz for the market. A visit to this bazaar becomes a truly unforgettable event for a tourist thanks to its two following features. Firstly, this is the trade in dates - a serious and intense occupation, judging by the important mines of the overseers monitoring the trade. Secondly, this is a site located somewhat to the side, intended for the trade in livestock and poultry. Next to several skinny camels you can see donkeys, sheep, chickens, turkeys; In a close crowd, residents exchange news, compare prices, and greet friends. You need to get to the market as early as possible, since most traders will be on their way home after noon.

The second thing you should definitely do in Douz is take an excursion to the sands of El Hofra. 4 km south of these dunes, the rocky desert becomes sandy. In front of the new modern hotels, camel drivers and their four-legged assistants wait for naive tourists who want to take a ride.
The most important event in Douz is the Sahara Festival, which usually takes place at the end of December. At the festival, representatives of various tribes from the surrounding area gather and organize dances, horse competitions, and also celebrate traditional weddings.

Three wet salt marshes, Chott el-Jerid, Chott el-Garsa and Chott el-Fedjaj, fill a 200 km-long basin located in southwestern Tunisia. Their surface level barely exceeds sea level, and sometimes even falls below it. Due to the intense evaporation of water from the thickness of these salt marshes, a strong crust is formed on their surface. For as long as the inhabitants of these places can remember, paths have passed through the salt marshes, known only to experienced guides and always ready to disappear as a result of a sudden rain. A traveler who lost his way on a salt marsh was threatened terrible death. Legends tell of a caravan of a thousand people that supposedly sank in Chott el-Jerid.

Nowadays, sports competitions, such as motocross or iceboat racing, are held on the surface of the salt marsh, which in summer becomes as strong as bulletproof glass. The most extravagant (and relaxing) way to explore the salt marsh and its surroundings would probably be in a hot air balloon.

To return to Tozeur, you must cross the Chott el Djerid again. The quality of the road along the coast is quite high. The tiny villages along the way often consist of just a few thatched huts, where former nomads are trying to lead a new, settled life.

From Kebili to Tozeur, 252 km, you can return the same way or along an arc of about 100 km: take the highway leading north through Schott el-Fedjadj. This route can only be followed in dry weather. To do this, first take the road in the direction of Gabes, then turn off at the Gafsa road sign and head north.

The track crosses the gray-brown salt marsh of Chott el-Fedjaj and after about 30 km begins to slowly climb up into the hills. At the 55th km of the road a mountain pass appears, in the vicinity of which traces of Roman defensive structures. After this you can see the silhouette of Borj Kanget Um Ali, one of the fortresses built by the French, although it was apparently founded by the Berbers. After about 11 km, turn left onto the RN15 highway and drive in the direction from Gabes to Gafsa.

Gafsa (70,000 inhabitants) is a very important transport hub and a significant economic center of the region. Of interest are two complexes of Roman baths, connected by a canal near the Kasbah; Nowadays, their water is supplied from the same geothermal source.

While my memories and impressions are fresh, I will write about the places we visited in Tunisia. That is, about excursions. The first excursion we went on was Tunis-Carthage-Sidi Bou Said. One-day excursion, cost from Coral travel is 75 dinars per person (1 dollar - approximately 1.5 dinars).
We left the hotel early in the morning, a little after 6 am, before that we had breakfast in the restaurant (in Tunisia they don’t give out a lunch package for early excursions, but simply open the restaurant early especially for those tourists who go on excursions early in the morning - you just need to warn in advance at the reception). First, our path lay in the destroyed ancient city of Carthage. Along the way, the guide spoke very interestingly about the country, its history, structure, and actually about Carthage itself and the legends associated with it. So, the road did not seem particularly tiring.
And here we are! Carthage (or Carthage) was founded in 814 BC. and from the Phoenician language is translated as “ new town" Of course, to this day the city has survived only in the form of ruins. But it’s still impressive when you imagine how everything was here long before us! We visited the Museum of Carthage, in the halls of which exhibits from the excavations of the city are displayed: various coins, dishes, statues. We heard the history of the city and naturally captured everything as a memory. Photo and video in Carthage costs 1 dinar per unit of equipment. Next, our path lay in the wonderful, beautiful blue and white town of Sidi Bou Said, located 20 km from the capital of Tunisia and rightfully called the pearl of Tunisia. The city was named after the preacher Abu Said, who founded a large religious center and was buried here. In the 18th century, wealthy Tunisians built summer residences in the city, and many famous artists lived in the city. In the 20s of the 20th century, the city was rebuilt in blue and white colors, and it remains so to this day. Residents are prohibited from repainting their houses in other colors. So they stand with white walls and blue windows, shutters and doors. It seems to me that you can spend hours wandering the narrow streets of this wonderful city, drinking mint tea in a cafe, admiring the beautiful views. The city itself is like something out of a picture. Co observation deck The sea offers such a breathtaking view that you want to sit down and look into the distance for a long, long time, without rushing anywhere and without thinking about anything... Of course, there is not enough time in one excursion... Next on the program we had lunch. And at the end of the excursion, we went to the capital of Tunisia - the city of Tunis. We had an hour and a half of free time there. We walked through the medina of Tunisia (medina - in North African countries - the old part of the city, in modern Arabic it simply means “city”). In general, the medina, as a rule, is surrounded by a wall, usually there are quite narrow streets inside, which make up real labyrinths. The medina in Tunisia is essentially a large market filled with stalls, colorful goods, and loud vendors. Here you need to be alert, watch your things, well, just like anywhere where there is a large crowd of people.
Then we just walked along the central street of Tunisia, stopped for coffee, bought wine at the General store (you can’t buy alcohol anywhere in the country) and set out on the way back. We arrived at the hotel around 7 pm, so we had time to have dinner. Another excursion that we also bought from a representative of Coral travel is a trip to the Sahara. The asking price is 150 dinars per person. Camel rides (20 dinars per person), horse rides - 10 dinars per person, ATVs - if two people share one - 35 dinars per car and jeeps (40 dinars per person) are paid separately on site. I advise you not to skimp and pay for it all. Because I guarantee delight, a lot of emotions, a great mood and good memories! So, we were picked up from the hotel around half past seven in the morning. In Sousse and Hammamet we picked up the rest of the tourists and went on this exciting journey. Our guide was good, but Aladdin was a little gloomy. Before the first sanitary stop was about two hours later, we were not tired, we had time to sleep a little and listen to interesting information. About an hour later we arrived at the first point of our trip, the city of El Jem, which houses the third largest Roman amphitheater, with a capacity of 30 thousand people. The amphitheater was built by the proconsul Gordian, the future emperor, in the early 1st century AD. and was used primarily for gladiatorial combat and chariot racing. Quite well preserved to this day; in the 80s of the 20th century it was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO. Photo and video on the territory of the amphitheater costs 1 dinar per unit of equipment. At the entrance and exit you can buy souvenirs with the symbols of the amphitheater. After that, we moved further south, and the views outside the window gradually began to change. Olive plantations gave way to cacti and thorns, mountains to desert plains. We were going to the Sahara. Along the way, we stopped at amazingly beautiful places for photo sessions - truly stunning landscapes that looked like out of this world. It is not surprising that many directors choose these places to shoot science fiction films. We also had a stop at a place where the Berbers (native people of North Africa) live.
We then had lunch in Matmata at the hotel. And after that we moved to the desert, where those who wished could ride camels and ATVs.
We didn’t ride camels (this “pleasure” was enough for me in Egypt), we chose ATVs. Great!! Speed, wind (and sand) and desert landscapes around!! Then, however, at the hotel I shook sand out of shoes and equipment))
Evening came unnoticed, we arrived at our place for the night, checked into the hotel, quickly threw our things into the room and went to the pool! After such a busy day, a dip in cool water is just what you need. And when the waiter brought a glass of cold beer, life seemed like paradise)) A little later we had dinner, with the last of our strength we made it to our room and collapsed into bed, only to wake up the next day at 4 o’clock in the morning…. Having woken up, had breakfast and boarded our bus, we continued on our way while it was still dark. And our path lay to the salt lakes in the desert. In general, I personally imagined the Sahara as endless sands and nothing more! It turned out that everything is completely different - there is a sandy, rocky and salty desert. . On both sides the roads stretch salt lakes. A rather monotonous landscape, reminiscent of snow. There is a version that a long time ago this part of the desert was a sea, and now the salt remaining underground comes up and such salt lakes are formed. Although lakes are a strong word, at least what we saw was just a crust on the ground and large deposits of salt drifts, with a little water visible here and there. We rode the bus a little more, and then we got on horses, or rather on horse-drawn carts, and went to the date plantations. Interesting and tasty (we ate dates and took pomegranates with us).
Then we boarded 6-seater jeeps and began an exciting and fun jeep journey through the desert. These are indescribable sensations that are best experienced by yourself!! We drove some part of the way along the Paris-Dakar highway. The stop was at the Star Wars movie location, all the scenery was still there, great!! Then there was a stop at an oasis. Cool contrast - just now there was only lifeless desert around and suddenly a green island of palm trees and waterfalls appears!! Then our journey in jeeps continued to the lunch place, and then we moved towards the city of Kairouan - the holiest city of Muslims in the Maghreb and the fourth holiest city of Islam. Many mosques have survived in Kairouan, among which the first place is occupied by the Cathedral Mosque of Kairouan, founded together with the city in 670.
There we saw the mosque, went into a souvenir shop and a handmade carpet shop. This was the end of our wonderful journey. All that remains is to drive a few more hours to our resort... Despite the fact that in total we drove about 1200 km in two days, I can’t say that it was too tiring. Tired, of course, but more from the bus! All emotions and impressions are still fresh and, I think, will be remembered for a long time!!!

Carthage, Kairouan, Neapolis (modern Nabeul)- enchanting echoes of antiquity, inviting you to travel... around Tunisia! For lovers of archeology, Tunisia has preserved magnificent amphitheatres, ancient buildings from the eras of the Phoenicians and Roman conquests, for lovers of extreme sports it has prepared a trip to the heart of the desert on camels and jeeps, for those with a sweet tooth - fresh fruits, delicious bread and sweet dates, for sissies - the gentle sea, and for travelers - green oases, ancient cities and kilometers of deserted roads!

Let's start our journey, or what is a must-see in Tunisia?

Tunisia

Indeed, there is a country in the world with the same name as its capital, and this is Tunisia! And the heart of Tunisia, the country and the city, is the Medina, the old part of the city. It is simply translated: “al-madina,” which in modern Arabic simply means “city.”
The medina is the most beautiful and original part of all the old cities of Tunisia: there are the medinas of Kairouan, Monastir, Nabouli, Sousse, Tauzar and Hammamet. And everywhere there are narrow streets with superbly preserved architecture, bazaars and a unique atmosphere. The center of the Medina of Tunisia is Zaytuna Grand Mosque or "Olive Mosque", built in 732. You can get to it through narrow streets filled with sellers of fabrics, jewelry, ceramics and spices. There is no single entrance to Medina, but there is a symbolic gate, Bab el Bahr, or French Gate, which seems to separate Medina Tunis from the modern part of the city. After wandering around the old city, go out onto the main street of Tunisia - Avenue Habib Bourguiba. There are hotels, cafes and numerous shops here. The end of the street is crowned by the Tunisian Big Ben - a clock tower with a fountain around it.

Medina of Tunisia: Great Mosque

Medina of Tunis: market

Medina of Tunis: Square with a fountain near the Bab el Bahr gate

Independence Square near the statue of Ibn Kaldun. There is a clock tower on the square, erected here in honor of the revolution.

Of course, the most famous place in Tunisia, his business card- this is Carthage! Now Great Carthage is a suburb of the capital and, along with ancient archaeological monuments, the residence of the President of Tunisia and the local University are located here. We will not go into the long history of Carthage; this is best done by everyone coming to Tunisia personally. The only thing I would like to say is: Carthage is destroyed, but it has not lost its greatness!

Hammamet

The main tourist center of the region is Hammamet; many world celebrities, such as Andre Gide and Frank Lloyd Ride, have already discovered its charm. Every year the International Festival of Music and Arts is held in Hammamet. You can bask in the sun, swim in the sea, and also enjoy music, dance and theater from July to August every year. At one time, such celebrities as Emir Kusturica, Serbian director and musician, Maurice Bejart, French dancer and choreographer and others took part in the Festival. Although, of course, we must pay tribute, most of the festival is still dedicated to traditional Arabic music.
Lovers of antiquity and architecture should never pass by the Medina of Hammamet and the Kasbah fortress, which dates back to the 15th century. From the top of its signal tower there is a magnificent view of the old city and of course the sea!

The Kasbah fortress was built in the shape of an irregular square with walls 13 m high and with one single entrance

Nabeul (Nabeul)

Near Hammamet is the city of Nabeul, its ancient name Neapolis still stirs the soul of many romantics. This is the second tourist center in the region, but it is known throughout the world not only for its beaches, but also for its craftsmen! Here is the center of pottery and ceramic production in Tunisia. Just as carpets must be bought in Kairouan, ceramics must be brought from Nabuli! Here you can not only buy a handmade plate, vase or candlestick, but also see how they are made!

Traditional ceramics of Tunisia

Sidi Bou Said

A blue and white Arabic village with a wonderful view of the Gulf of Tunisia - a meeting place for artists from all over the world! Here everyone will find inspiration in its wonderful winding streets with white house facades framed by bright pink bougainvillea and hibiscus, with blue shutters and doors decorated with patterns of nailheads.

Kairouan - “the city of three hundred mosques”

Three hundred kilometers north of Tunisia is the holy city for Muslims - Kairouan. At the end of the last century it was listed as a World Heritage Site! The main attraction of Kairouan is the Great Mosque of Kairouan (Sidi Okba).
Well, besides, this is the city you need to go to for carpets! They are not only the most beautiful here, but also the “freshest”. Therefore, visiting Kairouan and not buying a carpet is an unforgivable mistake! Silk carpets are considered the most expensive and difficult to produce: up to 500 thousand knots can be woven into them! Each carpet must be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Great Mosque of Kairouan

Sahara Desert

One of the most stunning places in Tunisia is the desert. In the summer in the desert the temperature can rise to +40 degrees, so you need to go to the desert in autumn or winter. The desert is not just sand, it is green oases, a salt lake and mirages! One of the most beautiful mountain oases in Tunisia - Shebika lies at the foot of the Jebel el-Negub mountain. In ancient times, there was a Roman outpost here, and later the Berbers settled here. Shebika is one most beautiful places Tunisia: mountains, palm trees, a waterfall and a small lake in the middle of the Sahara sands.

Oasis Shebika

Another amazingly beautiful place - Tamerza, mountain oasis, which is located near the Shebika oasis, at an altitude of approximately 900 m. In ancient times, a military garrison was located here. To this day, walking around the oasis you can find the remains of masonry, although, as such, the ruins of the ancient settlement are no longer there. However, Tamerza is unique in its nature: in autumn and winter you can walk along the canyon, along the bed of a seasonally dry river, in summer you can swim in a waterfall!

Oasis Tamerza

If you find yourself in Tozeur or Kebili, then you have a direct road to salty lake Chott el Gerid. This is a salty stretch of desert, almost 250 km long. Salts on the surface of a dry lake under the rays rising sun painted in incredibly beautiful pink and lilac shades. Salt mining is also carried out here.

Salt lake Chott El Gerid

Date Festival in Kebili, Tunisia

If for us a date is a date, then for Tunisians it is something like our apples, where there are a huge number of varieties (about 300) and they all differ in taste, juiciness, aroma and simply appearance. It’s completely normal for a Tunisian to go to a neighboring city to buy exactly THOSE dates, and of course, ideally on a branch!

At the end of November, when the fresh date harvest is almost ready, the Date Festival takes place in Kebili. It is still little known among tourists, but meanwhile it is a very interesting event, where traditional Arabic music is played, a local fair is held, and most importantly there are a lot of smiling faces!

What to try in Tunisia: features of Tunisian cuisine

National Tunisian cuisine, is very diverse, it combines the culinary traditions of the Mediterranean, the East and the Maghreb countries. If you are going to gastronomic tour, then you definitely need to go outside the hotel, where classic traditional “average” dishes are served. Perhaps this is the first and most important thing you should do. But keep in mind that if the hotel has any alcohol at your disposal, not every cafe will be able to provide it for you, especially on Friday. This is a holy day; on Fridays, even in stores you most likely will not be able to buy anything alcoholic. Therefore, if a glass of wine with dinner is very important to you, then before ordering lunch, make sure that you can be served the required alcohol. However, these are all trifles, but what you need to try first is, of course, brik and couscous. But every meal in Tunisia begins with harissa!

Harissa- This is a spicy paste of red pepper with olive oil and spices. A little harissa spread on a piece of white bread is a great way to start any dinner!

Brick- probably one of the most famous Tunisian dishes. It looks like a slightly strange, slightly overdried cheburek. This is because briks are fried in boiling oil. They taste completely different from chebureks, and that’s what makes them wonderful. Inside the thin dough fried until crisp are seasonings, herbs and one whole egg. However, the brik filling may contain meat, potatoes, and vegetables. Tellingly, brik is so popular in Tunisia that most hotels serve it. Don’t be lazy and wait in line to see the chef frying briki right in the hall, you won’t regret it!

Brik cooked with whole egg

Couscous- national dish of Tunisia. The basis of the dish is wheat grits, crushed to the size of millet. It is steamed, where it absorbs the taste of the meat and vegetables that are served with it. Couscous can be made from lamb, chicken or fish. There are hundreds of recipes for preparing couscous; not only the city, but also each village has its own recipe for this dish.

Meat in a pot. In Tunisia you can try very tender and juicy stewed meat. To keep the meat tender, it is stewed in ovens sealed with clay for several hours. Nowadays meat is served immediately after cooking, but previously it was believed that ideal meat was the one cooked yesterday.

Real Arabic coffee, strong and with abundant foam, is prepared in small Turks.

Traditional sweets of Tunisia: baklava (baklava), makrud (honey cookies with dates, cinnamon, almonds and candied fruits), mezelmen (cookies with almonds and honey).

Peeled prickly pear fruit, handi- an unusual fruit, the fruit of a cactus. They are eaten fresh, peeled. There are varieties with yellow and red core. The taste is very juicy fruit, with a faint strawberry-melon aroma. They are sold on the streets already in purified form. In addition, prickly pear fruits are baked, made into jam, and even made into wine.

Fish is cooked very tasty in Tunisia. If you choose a special fish restaurant, before lunch you will be asked to choose from several options the same fish that the restaurant chef will prepare for you

Tunisia for film lovers

Cinema and Tunisia are inextricably linked. American, French and Italian filmmakers were able to find beautiful and fantastic landscapes in Tunisia. Such films as “Gladiator”, “Angelica and the Sultan”, “The English Patient”, “Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark” were filmed here.
George Lucas really liked Tunisia. Many episodes Star Wars“They filmed right here and many of the sets are still in excellent condition. For fans of the saga, there is a special tour of the Star Wars filming locations. George Lucas even named one of the main planets Tatooine after the Tunisian city of Tataouine.

Mos Espa is a spaceport on Tatooine. Anakin Skywalker and his friends lived here. The main filming location for Mos Espa is in the middle of the desert, approximately 10 km from Tauzar (Tozeur)

What is a must see in Tunisia?

• Medinas of Tunisia, Kairouan, Tauzar, Hammamet, etc.
• Carthage - destroyed, but not forgotten!
• Sidi Bou Said - the “blue pearl” of Tunisia
• Sahara desert and salt lake Chott el Gerid

What to bring from Tunisia?

1. “Desert Rose” or “Sand Rose” - nature education, similar to a blooming rose flower. It is born under special conditions: when a rare rain falls over the desert, it is immediately absorbed into the sand. After complete evaporation of water, gypsum crystals form

2. Ceramics from Nabuli

3. Carpets from Kairouan

4. Olive oil

5. Dates (must be brought in the fall; dates are collected in November)

We have already thanked Alexandra personally more than once, but we really want to do it again, because it was thanks to her that the six days spent in Tunisia became so bright and beautiful. We traveled around the country for almost a week, visiting the flowery north (Ishkel Park), the legendary Cape Bon, Russian Bizerte, and the sands of the Sahara. And it’s still very difficult to say which I liked more. Therefore, we can say that I liked the country as a whole. Not a tourist-beach-resort Tunisia (I think here it is not much different from others Arab countries oriented towards beach holidays), and Tunisia is historical, Tunisia with a rich and very diverse nature. In the north everything is in bloom, the landscapes are somewhat reminiscent of Ligurian ones. There it seems that you are not in Africa at all. And after 400 kilometers the sands of the Sahara begin, which also turned out to be incredibly interesting. These are far from the replicated high dunes (they are still far from real dunes). These are rocky wastelands, and extremely picturesque mountains, and rock houses of the Berbers, and sands, and flowering meadows, and oases. In general, the entire Sahara is a living setting for an adventure film. When you drive towards the Duza oasis, it seems that you are on another planet. Everywhere there are stones overgrown with low bushes and strange flowers that can live among the sands, Berber tents and wandering caravans of camels. The feeling is as if I were transported two hundred years ago. I would especially like to mention the wonderful Berber restaurant that Alexandra invited me to on the evening of the first day. It was not only very tasty (they were treated to meat baked in clay jugs in earthen ovens), but also very beautiful. So, if you get a chance, be sure to visit it. The north is no less impressive. I really enjoyed the walk through Ishkel Park. Along the rocky path you can walk along the huge lake, admire herons and flamingos, and if you're lucky, water buffalos.
But Tunisia is not only nature and National parks. This is also an impressive ancient heritage (Carthage, even destroyed, still makes an impression), these are French, Spanish and Arab settlements and fortresses, this is the incredible history of the Russian squadron, a story telling about courage, honor and loyalty. Be sure, if you find yourself in Tunisia, visit Bizerte and look at the Shirinskaya Museum. And although the story itself is, to put it mildly, sad, you are still overcome with a feeling of pride that you, too, are part of the country to which such people once belonged. Bizerte is also a picturesque, authentic medina, a charming, very French port area. And nearby is the northernmost point of Africa - Cape Angel (Ben Sekka).
And I would also like to highlight the blue and white city of Sidi Bou Said (now one of the suburban areas of Tunisia). Just imagine: on a high rocky shore there are snow-white houses, whose doors and shutters are painted dazzling blue. Everything around is overgrown with flowers, the walls are entwined with fiery bougainvillea, and the Mediterranean Sea splashes below. You should definitely stop by the “On the Mats” cafe and sit either on the veranda overlooking the city streets or the coast, or inside, on the mats, Turkish style, and try green tea with nuts and local sweets.
In general, six days in Tunisia turned out to be very little to see all its sights. It is a pity that Tunisia is considered as a place exclusively for beach holidays, because in fact it is an incredibly interesting, picturesque country with a rich history. Friendly people live here, always ready to help you. And what kind of food is here... Varied (lots of fish, meat, incredibly fresh vegetables, berries and fruits) and incredibly tasty.
Once again I would like to sincerely thank Alexandra for the wonderful time spent and wish her every success.
Sasha, thank you very much for your attentiveness, sensitivity, and always a good mood. Good luck to you. And thank you very much!!!