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Geography. Tunisia is a country situated on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Nile Valley. It is bordered by Algeria in the west and Libya in the south-east. An abrupt southern turn of its shoreline gives Tunisia two faces on the Mediterranean.

Despite its relatively small size, Tunisia has great geographical and climactic diversity. The Dorsal, an extension of the Atlas Mountains, traverses Tunisia in a northeasterly direction from the Algerian border in the west to the Cape Bon peninsula. North of the Dorsal is the Tell, a region characterized by low, rolling hills and plains, although in the northwestern corner of Tunisia, the land reaches elevations of 1,050 meters. The Sahil is a plain along Tunisia's eastern Mediterranean coast famous for its olive monoculture. Inland from the Sahil, between the Dorsal and a range of hills south of Gafsa, are the Steppes. Much of the southern region is semi-arid and desert.

Weather and Climate. Tunisia has a warm climate all year. Best periods are spring and autumn. Temperatures can be extremely high inland. Winter is mild and has the highest rainfall.

Required clothing: Lightweights in summer, mediumweights and rainwear in winter. Sunglasses are advised. The northern area of Tunisia has a Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and cool rainy winters. Average temperatures from May to October are 19°C to 26°C. August is the hottest month. April and May weather is unpredictable. In the winter rain is frequent, temperatures averaging 10°C to 13°C.

Political system. Tunisia's presidential regime is based on the French system but there is hardly any resemblance with French democracy. While the economic decision makers in Tunis are mainly practical technocrats in tune with the modern world, the political system under President Ben Ali is authoritarian with critics calling it a dictatorship. The regime calls itself a parliamentary democracy.

Population. Tunisia has a population (1997 estimate) of 9,245,284, yielding an average population density of 56 persons per sq km (146 per sq mi). About three-quarters of the population lived in the coastal region. The arid central and southern parts make up 70 percent of the total land area, but contain less than 30 percent of the population. Throughout history, many peoples, including Romans, Vandals, black Africans, and Arabs, have invaded or settled in the region that is now Tunisia. Tunisians, however, are essentially of Berber stock, although fewer than 2 percent speak the Berber language. As a result of Arabization, Arabic has become the language of the Tunisian people, who have come to regard themselves as Arabs.

Religion. Islam is the state religion and allmost all inhabitants are Moslems, but there are small numbers of Roman Catholics, Jews, Greek Orthodox, and Protestants.

language. Arabic, is the official language, and while some businessmen speak English, Italian or German, French is usually the language of commerce. French is less apt to be understood in the far south. English and German are also spoken in major cities.

Tunisian cuisine is a blend of European, Oriental and desert dweller's culinary traditions. Its distinctive spicy fieriness comes from neighbouring Mediterranean countries and the many civilizations who have ruled Tunisian land: Phoenician, Roman, Arab, Turkish, French, and the native Berber people. Many of the cooking styles and utensils began to take shape when the ancient tribes were nomads. Nomadic people were limited in their cooking by what locally made pots and pans they could carry with them. A tagine is really the name of a conical-lidded pot, although today the same word is applied to what is cooked in it.

Like all countries in the Mediterranean basin, Tunisia offers a "sun cuisine," based mainly on olive oil, spices, tomatoes, seafood (a wide range of fish) and meat from rearing (lamb).

Souvenirs. Carpets and dyed cloth, porcelain, traditional furniture (caskets), copper goods, leather bags, jewellery, and olive oil.

Time. Falls behind ot Moscow on 3 hours by a summer and on 2 hours in winter

Work hours. The branches of banks work from Monday for Friday from 08:00 to 14:00, and in winter time yet and from 15:00 to 17:00.

Shops work in week-days in winter - from 09:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00, by a summer - from 08:00 to 12:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00. In time moslem holiday Ramadan is usually set particular treatment of work: from 09:00 to 13:00 and from 19:00 to 21:00.

In museums usually a day off is Monday. In a period from April for September museums, as a rule, are opened for visitors from 09:00 to 16.30. Some museums are closed at midday on a three-hour interruption.

A day off is in Tunis, unlike all the other moslem countries, not Friday, but Sunday. On Saturday at most state office workers and workers is the shortened working day.

Connection. In Tunis all phones have output on an international line (for this purpose it is needed to collect "00"). A bell to Russia from a phone will treat you approximately in DT 1 for a minute. Offices of trunk-calls in town easily to know on the signboard of TAXIPHON INTERNATIONALE, phones have a blue color. Points work from 08.00 to 22.00. Automats work as ot chinks dignity a 1 dinar for international negotiations and 1/2 dinar and 100 millimov for internal negotiations. Exchange of money it is possible to make for the worker of trunk-call office.

• National police - 197;
• A nightly fast is medicare - 71-71-71;
• First-aid - 198;
• Certificate - 216;
• Rental of cars - (01) 24 85 59 HERTZ, (01) 34 03 03 EUROPCAR, (01) 78 20 17 AVIS;
• International air-port of Tunis-kartazh - (01) 28-80-00; 23-60-00.

Currency. The unit of currency is the Tunisian dinar (TND), divided into 1,000 millimes. Travellers cheques are widely accepted. Banks and some hotels provide foreign exchange. ATMs are found in most towns and at all the tourist resorts; almost all will accept Visa cards and many will also accept Maestro (Switch) cards. Visa, Diners Club, American Express and MasterCard are accepted for payment in souvenir shops, upmarket hotels and restaurants, although Visa encounters the least problems. All Tunisian currency must be exchanged before departure

Transport. .Tunisia has a number of international airports to service its sizable tourist trade. Tunis is the center of the transport system as the largest city having the largest port and a light transit system.

National features. Life of true believer moslem determined duties, imposed on him an islam: he must acknowledge exceptionally single god - Allah and daily five one time, appealing a person to Mekke, to uplift prayer ("salyat"); during thirty days of month Ramadan believers observe a post ("saum"); one time in life a believer must accomplish "khadzh" - pilgrimage to Mekku, whereupon he gets a rank khadzhi; in addition, he must pay a religious tax ("sunset") which in Tunis raises the state. Over togo, most moslems aim to give alms beggars. Folk popular belief keep the great number of pictures of magic characters, ascending to to yet to doislamskim times. For prevention hoodoos come running to the different precautionary measures. Character is "Hand Fatimy", urgent also "kamsa" (pyaternya or palm) - most widespread mean of defence. The "hand of Fatimy" is carried as a coulomb or trinket. Many elderly women inflict a henna signs on a body, which protect from spoilage. For moslems not accepted am standing or in motion, to look in the face of man, busy a meal and to drink water after a fat dish.

Entertainment, and most land and water sports equipment. The resort houses a lagoon-style outdoor pool, surrounded by tiled walkways linked by stone bridges arching over the water. Refreshment areas surround the pool and the beach, which is dotted with thatched parasols and sun loungers. The sea is safe for swimming and leisure activities such as water skiing, windsurfing and banana- boat rides.

Throughout the high season, professional entertainers provide stage shows, theatre productions variety entertainment, cabaret and sketches for all ages.

A supervised Mini-Club is provided for children aged four to 14. The main restaurant features Arabesque-Spanish style surroundings and offers a buffet of international and Tunisian dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Salon Bar is open all day serving teas, coffees, sodas, fruit juices, cocktails, local wines and beer. During late afternoon guests are treated to a selection of cakes with tea or coffee.

Тунис - The nearest golf course, approximately 60 kilometres away, is the Golf de Carthage, a compact course of 18 holes with a par of 66. Facilities include a driving range and putting green, and a clubhouse, bar and restaurant. About 30 kilometres north-west of Tunis is the Ichkeul National Park. Tunis Carthage Airport is 35 kilometres away, with an approximate driving time of 40 minutes.

Djerba

This is the Island that Homer cites in the Odyssey as the place where Ulysses landed to have his companions taste the Lotus, the exquisite fruit with the taste of honey that made them forget everything including family and homeland. We wish you, more or less, the same experience!

Desired by all the Mediterranean powers, its coasts were during more than 3 millenniums the objects of frequent aggressions. Dragut, the 16th century Turkish Corsair set up one of his favorite headquarters there after having eliminated the Spanish occupants.

In the Island of Jerba you will visit the colorful Houmt-Souk, Jerba’s main popular market , and the “Ghriba”, a synagogue that traces its origins back to the 6th Century A.D.

The Ghriba contains very old Torah scrolls, making it a most important Jewish temple in North Africa and a place of yearly pilgrimage.

Kairouan

It is home of Islam’s most sacred Islamic sanctuary in North Africa: The Oqba Mosque; and with its animated souks, world-famous rugs, its streets with immaculate walls painted a blue color, Kairouan is a truly Islamic city that was able to preserve its power and charm of long ago.

On the contrary, Kairouan was at the same time far from the sea and geographically in the center of the country, from whence its armies could disperse in all directions to combat the stubborn resistance of the Berber tribes.

Carthage

one of the pillars of western civilization that is included in the same list as Alexandria of Egypt, Athens or Rome. Carthage was Tunisia’s capital for centuries on, and has a fascinating history.

Fearing for her life in the Phoenician city of Tyr, Queen Dido fled with her followers to the Western Phoenician provinces. Legend says that on landing in the coastal areas of Northern Tunisia, Dido promised the local inhabitants that she will settle in an area no bigger than a cow-skin.

She then cut the skin in such thin layers that she had enough room to build her city. Kart-Haddash, a Semitic word for “New City”, was born in 814 BC and grew into the strongest and wealthiest city of the region. It conquered land all the way west to Spain and led expeditions as far as Nigeria.

The Carthaginian merchants were known to be the best traders of the Mediterranean. But this wealth brought envy, and after three wars fought against the Greeks, the Carthaginians had to continue on fighting the Romans. One particular war stands out as the most ferocious Rome ever had to fight: an 18 years war in Italian soil led by the Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca and his marching elephants.

Маhdia

Tucked away like a precious jewel between Sousse and Sfax, this lovely port modestly conceals its prestigious and adventurous past. Proclaimed the capital of Tunisia in 921, Mahdia was long the center of a power struggle between the Caliph of Cairo and local sovereigns. Repeatedly attacked by nomads, Genoese navies, Sicilian troops, liberated by the Berbers, Mahdia became a headquarters for the pirates of Dargouth and battles with Spanish and Maltese knights. The Central Mosque, austere and sober dates from the 10th century and the entrance to the Medina is through an enormous 16th century gate. Wandering through the old city visitors can see the vestiges of the ancient ramparts and fortress, visit the "Cape Africa" lighthouse and hauntingly beautiful sailors cemetery.

Mahdia of today is that of the fisherman mending his nets and the silk weavers in the Rue Sidi Jaber. A few kilometers from the town itself a myriad of modern first class hotels offer visitors one of the finest beaches in Tunisia.

Monastir

Discover a charming town that was able to keep its original Muslim architecture and a way of life that could be described as the Tunisian version of “La Dolce Vita”! Few things exist of its ancient past. But we do know its ancient name: Ruspina, the latin version of the Phoenician Rouss Pena. Historians’ theories link today’s name to the word monastery, as it probably was a center for Christian prophecy in the region.

What is more certain is that the city originated as a Ribat (a fortress inhabited by monk-soldiers), built in 796 following the orders of the Caliph of Bagdad in what was a series of fortresses built from Egypt to Morocco.

Monastir is also known due to the fact that Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia’s independence leader, was born there in 1903.

Nabel

Near to Hammamet the town of Nabeul offers a authentic view of the art of pottery and ceramics. Visitors can watch as the potter's wheel spins out a work of art and admire the range of talents of these artisans who create the modern and sophisticated with the same definite touch as the traditional Tunisian ceramics.

2 Km away is Dar Chaabane, a village noted for its stone carvers. It is just an hours drive to Tunis where day excursions will introduce visitors to this capital rich in history, its ancient medina with fabulous souks, prestigious suburbs of Carthage, Sidi Bou Said ,the museum of Bardo with its world famous mosaics alongside the bustling vitality of a modern city.

Sousse

It was founded by the Phoenicians who called it Hadrumet and even before Carthage was founded Sousse was a major port and an independent city until the 6th century BC, where it came under the influence of Carthage, Rome, Constantinople and many other later civilizations

Of the many centers of interest that Sousse has to offer, the Medina (the old town) is by far the most important and is home to monuments of major importance: the Muslim “Manar” and “Ribat” (9th century fortification towers), the Great Mosque of 850 AD and the Christian Catacombs containing 240 burial galleries which are better preserved than those in Rome!

Таbarka

A Pine and mimosa covered mountain gentle slopes to the sea where bays of fine sand are interspersed with rock "needles", sculpted by the sea. Since antiquity Tabarka has been famous for its coral fishing and the Coral Festival of underwater photography hel each summer attracts international visitors and specialists.

The recently built resort Montazah-Tabarka offers a class c yachting harbor with all modern facilities . For the sportsminded, an 18 hole golf course stands in a superb 270 acre forest,overhanging the sea and Tabarka has become "the place" for diving, fishing, sailing as well as the ever enjoyable sunbathing. The summer festival of folklore and music has become justly famous for the quality of its performances by local and international artists and musicians.

The rich natural environment of Tabarka has been carefully preserved and visitors will delight in crystal clear waters and a bay of fine sand with the lovely mountains of Kroumirie as a backdrop. Just a few miles from the beachfront these mountains abound in wildlife from red deer to the solitary eagle. The excursions offered by the Tabarka Club invite both amateur and professional divers to discover the opulence of the sea life .

As with most of Tunisian cities Tabarka's history is a colorful mosaic of Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Turkish civilizations. Nearby Bulla Regia and Chemtou provide visitors with a glimpse of superbly preserved roman sites and overlooking Tabarka itself, the lonely sentinel of a 16th century Genoese fort still stands guard.

Тunis

Once a small berber village perched atop of a hill near ancient Carthage, it owes its duration to its geographical position which is neither on the coast nor on the interior, but at the end of an easily defendable lake that in turn, opens to the sea. It was only in the 13th century that the city became the capital of the Hafsid reign (1229 to 1574). With Sicily only 87 miles away, Tunis controlled the transit between eastern and western Mediterranean.

During the Hafsids, Tunis was considered a large, cultural, and well planned city: The Zitouna Mosque, built in 732, was a center of civilization and could be considered as one of the first University.

Today, the ancient Medina (city) is considered as one of the better-preserved Arab medieval medina in the world thanks to the government’s multiple restoration projects. There, you will encounter the multiple handicrafts venders of the souks, or the numerous palaces that turned into museums, like the Museum of Popular Traditions and Arts located in the old Turkish style palace of “Dar Ben Abdallah.”

In nearby Tunis, you visit the Bardo Museum. Housed in a former palace of the Ottoman kings, the Bardo boasts the largest collection of mosaics in the world!

Hammamet

Hammamet one of the most famous symbol of Tunisia as it turned into an internationally famous luxury seaside resort, hosting thousands of visitors from all over the world.

The charms of the sea, the sand, the sky, the palm trees and the orange trees combine to re-create the image which so many important visitors (Paul Klee, Oscar Wild, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, etc...) had of this enchanted land.

The 15th century citadel (Casbah) with its walls protecting the old town is now Tunisia’s haven for the rich & famous, as many of them remodeled old houses. Others preferred to build luxurious Villas on the surroundings, turning Hammamet into a center for Moslem /Tunisian style architecture.

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1)
Bears in all zoos of the world are engaged in the same: cadge

2)
A tree is dry, but likable

3)
And in the Moscow zoo of rhinoceroses it is not!

4)
An enclosure is opened - call to the elephant who wants! True a ditch interferes with an elephant to go out to meet

5)
Usual us a white stork is the fully African bird!

6)
A very large enclosure was taken zebra

7)
In a zoo Frigiya of guests meet a flamingo

8)
Greater part of zoo Frigiya visitors examine from the special bridges. Therefore enclosures appear down, under visitors. Well and where here lions?

9)
Curious surikaty are relatives of Timona from disneevskogo mul'tika

10)
An ostrich is no less curious

11)
And camels are quite imperturbable!

12)
An antelope found the small scrap of shade and rests
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Тunis. Roman mosaics

There is an archaeological museum in Sousse

1)
One of halls of the real museum. On the floor is a mosaic with representing the head of Gorgon.

2)
And mosaic. Take into account that here a survey was conducted under a corner, a medallion is round. In the central medallion of mosaic (150-200 gg of our era) represented head of jelly-fish Gorgon. It in obedience to myths converted a legendary zeevolosoe creature into a stone all, on whom onasmotrela. It is an image often also meets on medallions which carried on a breast Greek and Roman soldiers. Gorgon must was protect those who carries them ot a bad eye.
If long to look intently into a picture there is the impression, that Gorgon as though tightens you to itself!

3)

4)

In a gallery round a court rannekhristianskie mosaics are mainly placed. Two rannekhristianskie mosaics are here presented. Use of mosaics on grave flags was very popular in Christian Africa. In christian epitaphs very often there are words to the "in race" (in the "world" in sense "reposes in world") and "khristogramma"

Hall №2

5)
Mosaic 3 ages of our era with months and sometimes years - in squares, besides the names of months the religious or societies stages, characterizing, are shown each month.

6)
August

7)
September

8)
October

9)
November

Hall №3

10)
A large mosaic (9.5 on 7.5 meters) is found at the end of a 19 age in trikliniume (to the dining-room) at home in Arsenal in Suse presents the mythological stage: Ganimed, taken away growing into an eagle Zeus-Jupiter. Jupiter vospylal passion to youth, that took him on Olympus, where Ganimed must was attend gods. Red a little cap on a head for Ganimeda specifies on his origin from Frigii (in Asia Minor), and purple pillow-sham - on the noble origin of youth. In eight medallions round the central stage are different animals.

11)
Neptune, ruler of seas, with a trident in a right arm, on a wagon marine horse are harnessed in which. A mosaic is dated sometimes emperors of Severov (began 3 ages A.D.), found in Suse in 1904. One of the most likable mosaics in a museum.

12)
Here is represented the stage from classic athenian mythology with Athena and Poseydonom, which give the court of gods arguments in a spore about dominion above By Africa.

13)
A mosaic is found in an amphitheatre in Smirate, representing the different moments of games in this afiteatre and accompanied inscription about organization of games in given afiteatre.

Hall №4

14)
Another mosaic began 3 ages of our era devoted gallops, more precisely preparation to the gallops. Grooms in the varicoloured clothes of commands hold the reins of horse. At its name is written every horse. It is possible that four colors symbolize times of year (green - spring, red is a summer, dark blue is an autumn, white - the winter)

16)
Small mosaic. Such with protective aims laid at a threshold - against a bad eye and other misfortunes. On a mosaic masculine privy part is represented in surroundings two womanish. It is difficult to interpret inscription of O CHARI (in any event it is so written in a guide-book on a museum)

17)
The mosaic of tragic poet (3 in. A.D.) is found in Gadrumete in 1962 Very interesting stage, related to the theater. On a platform, in the feet of which there is a box, filled with retinues, a figure is disposed, possibly a sort of manager of the stage. Alongside, at a column, young actor with a mask which he prepares to put on itself.

Bardo Museum

One of halls of museum

Bardo is a palace and museum

The Bardo museum is situated in the old palace of the bey, in what was the countryside before, and offers both itself and and the exhibits to be admired. The tour around the museum is a a tour through Tunisian history, though dominated by Punic, Roman and Christian periods.

The best exhibits of more recent times, are the remains of the palace itself, even if this of course do not give a fair representation of general life styles of its time. All 3 pictures here show exactly that; the top picture shows a bed for royal backs; the second is take from the main hall; on the third picture you see how not one single corner of the ceiling has been left unattended from real artistry.

The collection of Roman mosaics in the Bardo museum is considered to be one of the best in the world.

On the ground floor, you will find statues from Punic times, church mosaics, mosaics from Bulla Regia and Thuburbo Majus. On the first floor, there are more Roman mosaics and statues from Carthage, Dougga, El Jem, Sousse, near Mahdia and once again Thubrubo Majus. On the second floor there are some great collections of mosaics from Le Kef and Acholla (north of Sfax). There are also 2 fresco rooms on this floor.

Hall №1

2)
Fragment of enormous mosaic which can be seen on a previous photo

3)
Venus on a chariot cupids are harnessed in which.

4)
The stages of hunt often meet on mosaics... (Tuburbo Madzhus IV age of n. e.)

5)
similarly as well as exterminating images, flush different living creatures (Tuburbo Madzhus, IV-V vv. n. e.)

Hall №2

6)
Ceremonial hall or Hall of Susa. Called so from a mosaic (13.15 kh 10.25 m), placed on the floor and representing the procession of Neptune, which was found in Sousse.

7)
Marble head of huge statue of Jupiter (she must was be no less than 7 meters of height). Capitol of Tuburbo Madzhusa III age A.D.

8)
Foot ot the toy statue of Jupiter from Tuburbo Madzhusa, dressed in a sandal. Quite good manual for studying history of shoe!

9)
On mosaics it is possible to study to, how people lived in Roman Africa in the first ages of our era.

10)
Mosaic from bestiariya in Amphitheatre of Radesa. IV age A.D.

11)
Uliss and Sirens. Dugga of the III eyelids of n.e.

Hall №3

12)
Closed internal court of palace with a gallery. So-called Hall of Carthage

13)
Orpheus, playing on a lyre. He is surrounded by animals, charmed the sounds of his music. A mosaic takes place from the villa of the two largest landed interests in Udne. She even signed (in a mug in a levom overhead corner) - an author was called by Masurus.

14)
Fragment of mosaic with Orpheus

15)
Poet Vergiliy, writing Aeneid, on a throne between two muses: by the muse of history of Klio and muse of tragedy Mel'pomenoy. It is possible to read on a retinue: " Musa mihi causas memora quo numine laeso, quidve..." It 8 and 9 lines of poem. A mosaic is found in Suse in 1896. Researchers are dated variously: I to III age A.D.

16)
Rannekhristianskaya mosaic. Grave flag of child which was called Victor.

17)
Good pastor. Bas-relief with one of the most popular rannekhristianskikh characters. Character ascends to the words of Khrista, to resulted in Gospel ot Ioanna: "I esm' a pastor is good; and know My and My know me" (Ioan. 10, 14)

Hall №4

18)
Ceilings are in one of halls of museum

19)
Small mosaic, alas, even not imevshaaya tablets with description.

20)
Unfortunately can say nothing and about this mosaic. Simply likable lion!

21)
An enormous mosaic representing a fight with a lion on an arena. From above what is going on an audience look after

22)
Marine monsters: frequent subject on mosaics

Carthage

1)
Kolesnichiy and his wife

2)
And there are mosaics in this museum, although mainly all is taken out in Bardo

3)
One of windows of museum

4)
Alas, did not write down the exact name of exhibit, can, who of those, who will depart to Carthage, will prompt?

5)
Head of emperor Lutsiya Pitch (161-169 n. e.)

6)
Head of Konstantina II (337-340 n. e.)
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