Sousse

Phoenicians called it Hadrumetum which meant "Strong City". Later it passed into the power of the Roman Empire and then of Byzantium. Before it received its actual name Sousse, the city has changed five other names.

In the 8-9th centuries there will a settlement of Arabs who created the modern image of the central part of the city: a fortress with merlons where the most ancient prayers' room in Africa was as well as a tower 30 m high, several ancient mosques and the city museum performing the history of this place of the 3ÂВ–4th centuries in mosaics.

In the vicinity of the city there are remains of Phoenician tombs, Roman houses and Byzantine fortifications. In the northern part of Sousse carefully restored burials of the 2ÂВ–4th centuries are located; those are Christian catacombs of the Good Shepherd in more than 25,000 tombs.

It is the third in size city of Tunisia (after Tunis and Sfax). Sousse has received a status of a tourist city in 1960-s. They have worked out and realized a concept of integrated tourist zones for the first time here. These zones were territories completely put for constructing of hotels and an extensive network for tourism.

Nowadays, Sousse is a joyful and bustling city which can be recommended to those who are interested in sportive recreation and active night life.

Another big tourist project is realized in 5 km from Sousse: it is a resort complex of Port El Kantaoui. Its centre - marina - is built in the style of ancient Mediterranean towns: artificial harbour is encircled with small Moresque bungalows where coffee-houses, fish restaurants, souvenir shops and apartments are placed. The harbour can accommodate up to 300 yachts and sea boats at once.

Officially, Port El Kantaoui is a district of the city of Sousse but in fact it is an independent resort with a complete assortment of recreation facilities.