Tunis
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Tunis is one of the largest Mediterranean ports and is a gateway to Africa. It is an ancient city shaped over centuries and there have been people living here since prehistory. These days the country’s capital is a sprawling metropolis in which about 20 per cent of the entire Tunisian population lives.
The city centre is a strange mixture of the medieval Arabic Medina and the colonial New Town, with the French influence evident in the modern buildings and wide boulevards. A modern Arabic city, with new high-rise buildings, but which has an ancient feel to it. The city is flanked by the shallow Lac de Tunis, a canal created in the 9th century that stretches to the sea which attracts beautiful flamingos.
Things to see and do - Medina
The Tunis Medina is the largest in the country and is classed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. A special local society, Association de Sauvegarde de la Medina, has been set up to ensure that the older buildings are conserved and maintained. The major entrance to the old walled town is the old Sea Gate (Bab el Bahr), also called Porte de France. It used to define the old city limits before the colonial French came to town. The British embassy is the elegant white building with the blue shutters right at the entrance to the Medina.
Rue Jamaa ez Zitouna is the main street into the heart of the Medina and it is lined with souvenir stalls. It ends at the entrance to the Grande Mosquée (Great Mosque), which is second only in age and importance to the Great Mosque in Kairouan. Rue Zitouna is quite touristy and it is here that the hawkers will harass you the most. You will not get too many bargains when there are lots of tourists about, but there is a good choice of items on offer.
Beaches
La Marsa has one of the closest beaches to Tunis. A 30-minute ride on the TGM (Tunis-Goulette-Marsa light rail - from the Gare Maritime at the end of Avenue Habib Bourguiba) will take you to the end of the line and La Marsa. There is a sandy stretch of beach along a pleasant promenade. Café Saf Saf is the most famous café in town because it has a camel that draws water from a well, offers good coffee and a lively atmosphere. Open only in the summer.
The city centre is a strange mixture of the medieval Arabic Medina and the colonial New Town, with the French influence evident in the modern buildings and wide boulevards. A modern Arabic city, with new high-rise buildings, but which has an ancient feel to it. The city is flanked by the shallow Lac de Tunis, a canal created in the 9th century that stretches to the sea which attracts beautiful flamingos.
Things to see and do - Medina
The Tunis Medina is the largest in the country and is classed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. A special local society, Association de Sauvegarde de la Medina, has been set up to ensure that the older buildings are conserved and maintained. The major entrance to the old walled town is the old Sea Gate (Bab el Bahr), also called Porte de France. It used to define the old city limits before the colonial French came to town. The British embassy is the elegant white building with the blue shutters right at the entrance to the Medina.
Rue Jamaa ez Zitouna is the main street into the heart of the Medina and it is lined with souvenir stalls. It ends at the entrance to the Grande Mosquée (Great Mosque), which is second only in age and importance to the Great Mosque in Kairouan. Rue Zitouna is quite touristy and it is here that the hawkers will harass you the most. You will not get too many bargains when there are lots of tourists about, but there is a good choice of items on offer.
Beaches
La Marsa has one of the closest beaches to Tunis. A 30-minute ride on the TGM (Tunis-Goulette-Marsa light rail - from the Gare Maritime at the end of Avenue Habib Bourguiba) will take you to the end of the line and La Marsa. There is a sandy stretch of beach along a pleasant promenade. Café Saf Saf is the most famous café in town because it has a camel that draws water from a well, offers good coffee and a lively atmosphere. Open only in the summer.
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