Africa - Tunisia - Beyond Tunis

Charming Mediterranean atmosphere

(photos of June 2010)

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Country scenes

Tunisia (Wikipedia, map), has much to offer outside of its capital Tunis. It has a Mediterranean landscape in the northern half of the country, becoming progressively drier and warmer to the south as the Sahara desert encroaches.

Our first picture of a shepherd tending his flock is timeless -- this scene could have happened in biblical times, as well as in 2010 when this picture was taken some 100 km south of Tunis.

The second picture connects the Roman days with the 21st century. It shows the remains of a Roman aqueduct that over 2000 years ago carried water to the city of Carthage (near today's Tunis), over a distance of tens of kilometers. It is seen here crossing a valley.

The Romans left many more traces of their long occupation of Tunisia, their "Africa province", including the remains of the substantial town of Thuburbo Majus (Wikipedia, map). The next scrollable panorama shows part of the view from its Capitolium (a temple dedicated to the main Roman deities), overlooking the forum (the major public square of the town).

The next view shows part of the elaborate winter baths of Thuburbo Majus, with their spectacular mosaics.

Nearby flows a little river that nourishes a bonanza of flowers.

Muslim influence

The long Muslim domination of Tunisia is visible in its many mosques and coranic schools (madrassas), among other religious institutions. The following beautiful minaret stands in the seaside town of Nabeul (pronounced much like the English "nabble", Wikipedia, map), in its medina (the old city).

An extremely important mosque can be found in the city of Kairouan (Wikipedia, map), some 100 kilometers south of Tunis. The Mosque of Uqba (or Great Mosque of Kairouan, Wikipedia, map), shown in the next 4 pictures, is in fact the fourth most important islamic center after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. Note the relative simplicity of its external style, compared to many other mosques in the Arab world. (Its first scrollable panorama spans a full 360 degrees.)

We now illustrate smaller mosques and religious institutions like coranic schools. Of the next 3 pictures, the first two show a coranic school in Kairouan, while the third is now a beautifully restored cultural center in Nabeul.

Nabeul's souk

The next pictures give impressions of the very colorful souk (market) within Nabeul's medina. Nabeul is the center of Tunisia's pottery crafts.

Kairouan's medina

Finally, we present views of Kairouan's old city. The narrow, white-washed alleys keep the houses cool in summer and warm in winter -- the West could profitably learn from this architectural feature.