Tunis

The city of Tunis became the capital of the country in 1956. It is a fantastic city which is often called by its guests "Arabic Paris" or "Arabic Marseille".

There is everything making the city modern and prosperous: highways of European level and speed streetcar, offices of the leading European banks and international holdings, stadiums and theatres and, naturally, an immense quantity of various small restaurants both luxury and easy ones.

One of the city-signs is the famous museum of Bardo performing a rich collection of ancient Roman mosaics.

In Tunis you should by any means visit its large covered market and look at all the aspects of Eastern trade life - the medina of the capital which has been included into the list of World Heritage of the UNO in 1981. Souk El Attarin is the most exotic part of the medina occupying the place of the medieval incense market. Even nowadays you can buy different species, seasonings, incenses and perfumes there.

The Public library of the capital is the biggest (after Cairo) depository of Arabic literature in the Moslem world; and the University of Tunis is almost as old as the world-known Oxford.

Europeans are sincerely surprised when they see… police officers. In the capital the most part of police officers are women and the most part of them if not exquisitely beautiful at least very pretty. There is an opinion that women are more polite and friendly and these are the qualities which are in special demand in the capital. In fact, police is everywhere in Tunisia, especially in the capital. May be this is the reason of rather low criminal level in the country which is safe for visitors.

The suburbs of Tunis - Gammarth and Carthage - are the exact copies of the capital with its European charm and high style. In Gammarth there are mostly hotels of the top level with the best service. Gammarth is a resort for those who evaluate perfection even in details.