Natural conditions
Tunisia is located in the north of Africa, bordered on the west by Algeria, on the south-east - with Libya. The north and east of Tunisia are washed by the Mediterranean Sea. Tunisia - one of the three Maghreb countries (along with Algeria and Morocco). Due to its peculiar shape, elongated, pointed wedge down in Tunisia resembles a bird's wing. Maybe that's why people like to compare the countries of the Maghreb Maghreb with the whole bird, which forms the body of Algeria, and the wings - Morocco and Tunisia. The Republic of Tunisia is divided into 23 Governorate (villayeta), divided into counties in 2600 (delegation).
The relief of the country's mostly flat and hilly, about a third of the territory occupied by the mountains of the Atlas and the intermountain plateau. The main part of Tunisia is situated on the coastal plains. The landscape of northern Tunisia, from the rugged coast, the fertile valley of the river Medjerda, the mountain chain of the Great Tell, very close to the southern European. This area is the highest mountain Shamba (1544 m) and most famous mountain Jabal Semmama and Jabal Tiusha. In Muslim legend, in this group of peaks was converted caravan of pilgrims.
The central part, conventionally called the steppe - a land of sand dunes and salt flats (giant undrained depressions filled with water saliferous, another name for Chott). South of Tunisia - desert kingdom. In the south-east is rocky desert Hammad, south-west - sandy-gravelly desert Sarir, to the south - Rmel El Abiod, which is the northern tip of the Great Eastern Erg. The coastline is also very diverse: the northern shores of the rocky and steep, with lots of small bays, the east coast is famous for its countless sandbanks and islets. This is where the main tourist centers are located: the capital of Tunis with its suburbs, Hammamet, Nabeul, Sousse and Monastir.
Natural vegetation in Tunisia, anciently inhabited by farmers and herdsmen, greatly changed. Only on the north coast can be found now shady "islands" of Mediterranean vegetation, especially Protected in parks and gardens, which also brought a lot of ornamental subtropical plants. Some of them (agave, cactus, prickly pear) settled for the most part of Tunisia. In the mountains, on the northern slopes of the individual, there are the wild olive, olive wood, cork and oak, laurel, wild rose. Very sparse vegetation in the desert of Tunisia. In the rocky desert Hamadeh only grow prickly shrubs and lichens, and on the dunes - deprived of leaves of desert trees: Talha, Ethel. In the oasis you can see orchards, almond and olive trees, groves of date palms, and on the edge of the Schott ripens the world-famous brand Deglet Noor - "fingers of light."
The climate is formed on the one hand, influenced by the Mediterranean Sea (in the northern part of the country dominated by the dry subtropical climate), on the other hand, - the Sahara Desert (in the south dominated by the hot climate of tropical deserts). The average January temperature in the north of 10 ° C, in the south of 21 ° C; average temperature in July, respectively, 26 ° C and 33 ° C. Due to low humidity, even the July heat is relatively easy, so the high season is from May to September. Same time, ideal for traveling into the country and in the desert is the spring and autumn with a moderately hot days and cold nights.
That story makes Tunisia an attractive tourism: each State conqueror has left its mark in the shape of modern Tunisia, has enriched its culture, resulted in an atmosphere of eclectic and original. Tunisian territory mankind has mastered more than a million years ago, and here arose the first relatively early state. In the XII century BC. Oe. regarded as the strongest country in the Mediterranean. The defeat of Carthage in the last of the three Punic wars with Rome, made it to the middle of the II century AD, but Roman province. In such a situation were the land of Tunisia until the V century AD, when the collapse of the greatest empire the North African land began to pass from one conquest to another. In V-VII centuries Vandals, Alans and Byzantines alternately took possession of this region until the end of VII century, there were no Arabs begun to spread throughout the Tunisian Islam.
In 800 AD, Tunisia was separated from the Arab Caliphate, creating their own state, and the XIII century, played an important role in the Arab world. But at the end of the XVI century recognized its dependence on Turkey, to avoid encroachment on their sovereignty on the part of Spain. In the XVII century, Turkey is strongly dependent on the weakened and wore a formal nature, which allowed in 1861 to introduce the country's first constitution. In 1881 the French occupied Tunisia, attempts at resistance were suppressed. However, after the First World War, they turned with renewed vigor.
The outbreak of World War II for some time changed the political situation in the country. In 1942, Tunisia has captured the German and Italian troops, and in 1943 - Anglo-French part. After the war, colonialism, has been restored, but in 1954 France granted Tunisia internal autonomy, and in 1956 - full independence. Since July 1957, Tunisia declared itself a republic.
Things to do
Culture of Tunisia is closely connected with its history. Historical and archaeological complexes: Utica (one of the first Phoenician colony, founded in 1101 BC. E.) And Carthage (Carthage Capital Power, founded in 814 BC. E.) - Invariably attract not only tourists but also to historians and archaeologists. Utica is located halfway between Bizerte and Tunis. Survived to the present day the remains of Roman houses, an amphitheater, baths, cisterns and aqueducts.
Carthage is considered one of the small wonders of the world. For the past two centuries of excavations in the city, destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC. Oe. Remained largely the remains of Roman buildings - the Capitol, an amphitheater, grand Aktonina term - as well as Byzantine churches. The finds from the ruins of Carthage are stored here in the museum "Lavizheri."
At 120 km from the capital can be seen, perhaps, the most interesting ancient center of Tunis - the ancient city of Dougga. Dougga - Phoenician (IV century BC. E.), Followed by Numidian (II century BC. E.) And, finally, the Roman (46 BC. E). City. Here are preserved Punic mausoleum, a monument erected in honor of the three gods - Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, the goddess of the temple of Juno Celeste, a Roman bath, a triumphal arch, and other ancient structures.
Safetula - the ruins of the Roman and Byzantine city near the present Sbeitla. In Safetule can see the remains of the Roman Forum and the Capitol with the temples of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, Byzantine churches. Fisdrus City, now of El Jem, is located halfway between Sousse and Sfax. It beautifully preserved building of the Colosseum, oval in plan, enclosed by three tiers arcades (height - 36 m). The most interesting monuments of medieval Islam concentrated in Tunis, Kairouan, Sousse, Monastir, Mahdia, Sfax.
Tunis - the capital and chief port of the country, founded by the Phoenicians in the tenth century BC. Oe. The most interesting part of the medieval Tunisia - Medina. Medina Center is a vast indoor market, to adjoin the Great Mosque (Mosque of Olive). The second earliest monument of Tunisia - cubic domed mausoleum Harasanidov. The city has many small mosques (built in the twelfth century later), there are madrassas and zawiya. Palaces of the Dar-al-Bey (eighteenth century) and the Darboux-Abdallah (XVIII-XIX century), decorated in polychrome marble, carved a bang, painting. In the suburban palace of Bardo (XVIII-XIX century) is the national museum, "Allawi". It has the world's largest collection of Roman mosaics from the Museum of Islamic Art in the palace of Dar-Hussein.
Within the city of Kairouan, (founded in 670), the first capital of the Muslim rulers of Tunisia to attract the attention of a small stone built arch "Mosque of the three-door" (built in 866) and Zawiya Sidi al-Gariani (XIV century) outside the city walls - Zawiya Sidi Sahba and the five-domed Zawiya Sidi Amar Abbas (XIX century). The city has a museum of Islamic art.
In Sousse, located on the site was founded in the XI century BC. Oe. Phoenician city, well preserved city walls (IX century) with a 30-meter tower, the Al-Khalifa. Interesting ribat square, the Grand Mosque (built in 850), a mosque Fatata Bu (IX century), is the Museum of Archaeology and Islamic art. In the vicinity of Sousse, the remains of Phoenician tombs, Roman houses, the Christian catacombs. Monastir has grown in VIII-IX centuries on the site of a Phoenician and then Roman city Ruspiny. Its walls, Ribat (built in 796 year), the mosque attracted the attention of Saeed large number of tourists. In 916 he founded in Mahdia survived the Great Mosque, the ruins of the palace and the arsenal, the lock Burj-al-Kebir (XVI century) with three bastions. In the south of Tunisia's most interesting object - Matmata. In its surroundings you can see the many underground dwellings built Berbers. In most of these caves, dug to a depth of 10 m, are still inhabited.
Nabeul - a resort in Tunisia. A huge earthenware jug in front of the train station resort of Nabeul symbolizes that the city is the center of the Tunisian pottery industry. Nabeul, founded in IV BC. Oe. and bore the name of Neapolis, located 7 km north of Hammamet. Its population is 40 thousand inhabitants. Nabeul is often called the city of potters: the stone houses and fences in the windows of many souvenir shops put up colored vases, pitchers, dishes, walls, and houses are decorated with fantastic tratuary tiles. It's quite strange, since the local clay is poorly suited for pottery and for the production of most products used kaolinskaya clay, imported here from Krumirii. Nabelskie masters are usually covered with blue glaze their wares in the so-called anadalusskom style. Most of the ceramic workshops focused on the street Sidi Barket. The best place for shopping - the market is Suq al-Juma. Here, except for "firm" sold pottery painting, perfumes, clothing, leather, and various herbs, spices and, of course, dates. The town has a small archaeological museum, located near the station. Here are displayed finds from the ancient Neapolis.
Sbeitla, or, as it is called the city the local way, Sufetula, located in the north of Tunisia. The city was built by the Romans in the II century and still retains the classic signs of a Roman building: streets intersect at right angles. The city has repeatedly changed its face, as in the V century to his reconstruction of a hand Byzantines. They have strengthened the city, trying to make it more defensible. However, despite this, even in the VI century Sbeitla was destroyed once and for all. The ancient city has been restored by archaeologists who excavated, restored and placed in places of everything that was saved.
The main interest is the well-preserved Capitoline temple, dedicated to, presumably, Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. This architectural ensemble consisting of three temples. Usually Capitoline triad paid homage to the same church. The question of why it was decided Sufetule depart from this tradition to this day remains an open question. The temples are connected by arches, which the priests could go from one building to another. In addition, the city gates preserved Antoninus Pius, a triumphal arch, the arch of Diocletian, the ruins of the Forum, which was built in the Byzantine era, and theater, as well as the tomb of a Christian Martyr - Bishop Yukundusa, Byzantine defensive soruzheniya Christian churches and IV-V centuries.
El Jem - a city in Tunisia, known in Roman times as Tisdrus, was one of the largest cities in the African provinces of the Roman Empire, he played a major role in the economy of this region, which is traditionally traded in olive oil. The time base of the town of El Jem is still not exactly defined by historians. We only know that the first inhabitants of the town were the Berbers. The heyday of El Jem in the III century associated with the arrival of the Romans. While here in the country produce the best olive oil. But in 238, the population of El Jem overthrew the Roman governor, and proclaimed Maximin emperor Gordian own.
However, it was the Romans, the modern El Jem must appearance of its most famous landmark in the world - this Roman Coliseum. In 240, the Romans built an amphitheater (14.5 meters long, 12.5 wide and about 4 m in height) in order to persuade the Berbers that Rome did not come into disrepair. In the Coliseum held in custody gladiators, wild animals, slaves. The arena was the venue for the famous gladiator fights, hunting the beasts, fighting slaves. There were also performances, concerts, town meetings. And now the Coliseum every year festivals of classical music. With the city associated with many legends. Thus, it is considered that there is an underground tunnel connecting the El Jem with the Mahdi, who was dug for elephants, taschivshih brought the stone to build the villas. On the outskirts of the town is an archaeological museum with a beautiful Roman mosaics.
In Tunisia, definitely need to try the national dish. The meal begins with kemiya - many appetizers, resembling the manner of submission of Spanish tapas and Greek meze. The main dish of the Tunisian cuisine - couscous - steamed semolina with lamb, chicken or fish and vegetables (potatoes, peas, carrots). Couscous is eaten with Harissa - mashed garlic and pepper and butter. Sweet version of couscous - mesruf - served on solemn occasions. In mesruf add almonds, pistachios and dates.
Of the first courses can be identified shakshuka - soup made from eggs and vegetables and shorba - noodle soup with vegetables and meat sheep. Tunisians are well cooked meat dishes. Especially the soft meat kamunii - beef stew, achieved with a very long heat treatment. Of the meat dishes stand out lubiya - beans with a lamb, eat - roast mutton with vegetables, nokhiya - veal cutlets spinach sauce, mesh - skewers of lamb, tadzhin - roast lamb with vegetables and eggs.
Many Tunisians prepare meals with eggs. This is - Odzhav - egg with various additives (acute sausages, vegetables and a spicy tomato sauce); dulma - stuffed vegetables, bric - triangular cakes with eggs, potatoes, vegetables, tuna or minced meat, mesh - a salad of tomatoes, peppers, tuna, onions and hard-boiled eggs with lemon and olive oil, Ashida - Mann porridge with egg and hazelnuts. For dessert eaten in Tunisia makrud - date-cake and baklava - pastries with almonds, pistachios and orange blossom scent.