For holiday makers with a love of ancient history, Tunisia takes the cake. For wherever one finds oneself in Tunisia, the footsteps of history are very discernible from multiple sites left in a melting pot of civilizations from the Phoenicians, the Romans and the Ancient World of the Berbers, the original inhabitants. The lively city of Sousse built by the Phoenicians in the ninth century retains a great deal of its original character and is Tunisia's third largest city. In the south-western corner of the medina is the Kasbah, constructed around the ninth century Khalef el Fela watchtower, which houses the town museum and an impressive collection of mosaics. Away from the dramatic history of this admirably cosmopolitan and most liberal of Islamic countries where the women enjoy more freedom than in other Islamic states, Tunisia offers 700 miles of sandy beaches, conservation parks, botanical gardens, acres of golf courses, water parks, scuba diving, historic souks, stress relieving thalassotherapy spas and the mysterious Sahara desert. North of the country the climate is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild winters. Temperatures in July and August can reach 35°C+, with up to twelve hours of sunshine per day. Southern Tunisia is even hotter, with temperatures reaching 45°C and more on occasions. During the winter there are approximately 5 – 6 hours of sunshine a day and temperatures are in the region of 18 – 20°C.
Full name: Tunisian Republic
Population: 10 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Tunis
Area: 164,150 sq km (63,378 sq miles)
Major languages: Arabic (official); French
Major religion: Islam
Life expectancy: 71 years (men), 75 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes
Main exports: Agricultural products, textiles, oil
GNI per capita: US $2,890 (World Bank, 2006)
Internet domain: .tn
International dialling code: +216
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