It is the northernmost African
country and the smallest of the nations situated along the Atlas mountain range.
Around forty percent of the country is composed of the Sahara desert, with much
of the remainder consisting of particularly fertile soil, and a 1300-km
coastline. Both played a prominent role in ancient times, first with the famous
Phoenician city of Carthage, and later, as the Africa Province, which became
known as the bread basket of the Roman Empire.
Rivalry between French and Italian
interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of
a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades following World War I
was finally successful in getting the French to recognize Tunisia as an
independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA,
established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years,
repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by
any other Arab nation. Tunisia has long taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in
its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for
a more open political society.
(Reference CIA Fact Book)
Tourist attractions in Tunisia:
Tunisia has a thousand miles of
coastline to the north, where luxurious resorts like Hammamet and
Nabeul nestle
amid citrus orchards. Vacationers relish the sandy beaches and crystalline
waters along the waterfront, where the only alternative to lazy bronzing is to
indulge in a round of golf or take the plunge with some water sports.
Just a few miles north of the
capital, Tunis, lie the remains of the legendary ancient city of
Carthage,
founded in the 8th century BC. By contrast Tunis is a hustling, bustling modern metropole where steel, glass and palm trees form the backdrop to streets filled
with fast-moving yellow taxis. In the heart of this surprisingly pristine city,
however, the centuries slip away in the medieval Medina, a haven for souvenir
hunters with hundreds of narrow streets crammed with vendors of antiques,
jewellery, pottery, carpets, perfumes, dried fruit, books, spices and many other
delights. Also, no tourist should miss a visit to the Bardo Museum in the city
for the joy of viewing one of the world's greatest collections of Roman mosaics.
Those intrepid enough to venture
into the south, on the threshold of the Sahara desert, will be rewarded with
some interesting geographical features like the 'forest in the desert' at
Ramada, the dry salt lake at Chott el Jerid, or the remote 'end of the road'
oasis at Ksar Ghilane.
The cherry on the top for visitors
to this affordable and exotic holiday destination is the warmth and genuine
friendliness of the Tunisian people. This is evident in even the smallest of
villages, where if you happen to pass through during one of the numerous summer
festivals you will be welcomed, urged to join in and find yourself dancing and
sharing a cup of tea.
