Tunis (Tunisia)
According to babyinger, Tunisia is an ancient city, over 1300 years old. Founded in the era of domination of the invincible Carthage. Built on a narrow strip of land separating Lake Sejumi and Lake Tunis, at the crossroads of major trade routes, Tunisia rapidly developed, surpassing Kairouan in importance and taking over the economic, political and religious functions of the capital. Belted by fortifications, with numerous palaces, mausoleums, mosques, gardens and beautiful squares, terraces and minarets, noisy narrow streets of the old city, pristine white domes of mosques, numerous shops of craftsmen and artisans, Tunisia retains its inexplicable oriental charm, while remaining noisy, friendly and lively.
Tunisia is a bizarre combination of European civilization and Arab Africa. Modern mirror-glass buildings, a little white Russian church, Medina, central boulevards built by the French, combined the capital of Tunisia. The main attractions of Tunisiaare the Zitouna Grand Mosque, the fortress, Turkish baths, and the Bardo Museum.
The core of Tunisia is Medina, a medieval Arab city with bazaars, mosques and shops. Around the Medina, the French administration since the end of the 19th century. began to build new quarters, which ultimately gave the capital the appearance of a modern European city. The Oliva Mosque is the spiritual center of Medina. The foundation stone of the mosque was laid in 732 Near Tunisia not only white, but also a very green city. Everywhere there are numerous flower beds, flower beds, squares. When a fountain beats between the trees, it seems that you are wandering through the fairy-tale city from One Thousand and One Nights.
In all parts of the city you can see various monuments of Muslim architecture – mosques. Avenue Habib Bourguiba (Avenue Habib-Bourguiba) – the main street of Tunisia, crossing the eastern part of the new city between the Tunisian bay and the Medina. The street is overloaded with traffic, but despite this, the boulevard running through its middle is a favorite meeting and walking place for residents of the capital. Along the street are high-rise buildings of offices and hotels, boutiques, cinemas and cafes.
On the outskirts of the city there is a green massif of the Belvedere Park, where various representatives of the African flora are collected. One of the attractions of the park is giant ficuses 20-25 m long. In the center of the “Belvedere” is the famous alabaster pavilion Kubba – a monument of ancient Arab architecture.
The Bardo Museum, the former palace of the beys, is located 5 km from the city of Tunis. It was built between 1855 – 1882. Part of the palace has been turned into a meeting room of the government chamber, the other part is occupied by a museum. The museum is famous for its very valuable and rich collection of ancient antique mosaics, collected from all over Tunisia, which, by the way, has a rich Roman heritage. The museum collection is one of the best in the world. The specifics of urban life in Tunisia – Numerous coffee houses and restaurants where you can have a tasty and quick meal. Here they sell juicy kebabs, and shorba, and chicken with boiled cucumbers and fragrant roots, and, of course, the famous brik.
Hammamet (Tunisia)
Hammamet is based on the site of the ancient Roman colony of Putput. The Arabs changed its name to Hammamet, meaning “place for swimming”, which predetermined the fate of the city – it became the largest resort in Tunisia. It is known for its mild climate, wide beaches and thalassotherapy centers.
The main attraction of Hammamet is the medina, built in 904 AD. e. and representing a quadrangular building with the Great Mosque (1236) and the market. Near the medina is the former tomb of Sidi Bou Hadid, which now houses the Tunis Marabout cafe.
To the sights of Hammamet also applies built in the 20s. last century house of George Sebastian. Cypress trees grow on its territory, the pool is surrounded by columns, and the bedrooms are decorated with antique mirrors and Roman baths. The Roman theater is located in the garden, where the International Arts Festival is held annually.
The largest medical center of Hammamet and all of Tunisia is Bio Azur. It has 54 treatment rooms, a saltwater pool with various water massages, an inhalation room, a hot tub, Turkish baths, a diet restaurant and a bar.
Monastir (Tunisia)
Monastir is a major Mediterranean resort. It is located in the east of Tunisia, 20 km south of Sousse. It was founded near the ancient settlement of Ruspina, where Caesar’s garrison was stationed.
Monastir is the hometown of the first president of independent Tunisia, Habib Bourguib, so it combines provincial buildings with majestic avenues. The main historical attraction of Monastir – the remains of Rabat Khartem, a defensive structure of the 8th century, which later became part of a powerful kasbah fortress. From the platform above the entrance to the northern part of Rabat, an impressive panorama of the city and the huge Kubbu cemetery opens up, where Muslims consider it a great honor to be buried. You can also look around the whole city from the observation tower of Nador.
At the Kubbu cemetery there is a mosque of Imam Sidi Ali el-Mezeri (XII century). It is interesting to visit the Museum of Islam in the building of the former mosque. Its exposition presents samples of wood carving from the Great Mosque of Kairouan, ancient chronicles, bone carving, holy papyri, gold and silver coins, ceramics, fabrics, Persian miniatures. Also on display are an astrolabe from Córdoba and filigree glassware from the Fatimid era.
In the medina of Monastir is the Mosque of Bourguiba, which was modeled after the Mosque of Hammouda Pasha in Tunisia. It can accommodate up to a thousand worshipers.
