Tunisia
Tunisia is one of the smallest countries on the African continent. Close to Europe, it is a fascinating mix of Mediterranean and Arabic cultural influences. With idyllic, unspoilt rocky coastline, sweeping sandy beaches, lush green vineyards and citrus groves to the north, and the harsh, desolate Sahara Desert to the south, Tunisia is an ideal holiday destination for those who want to experience a taste of the exotic without losing the comforts of a typical family holiday in the sun.
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This major resort town at the base of the Cap Bon peninsula is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tunisia. In the 1920s, Hammamet was just a small fishing village with a thriving business exporting lemons, grown in the surrounding area, to America, but after a Romanian millionaire built a villa here the tourist industry took off. For a while, Hammamet was a cultural magnet for those who could afford a bohemian lifestyle that was exotic and exclusive. Many famous artists and writers, Paul Klee and André Gide among them, came to stay in Hammamet. But that bohemian exclusivity has all gone and now Hammamet is the biggest resort in Tunisia, with more tourist hotel beds than any other place in the country.
Although the visitors flock here in their droves during the high season, some of the original ambience of the town has been retained through sensible planning by the locals. None of the modern buildings is over a certain height, so they do not destroy the character of some of the original architecture.
As with many towns in the country, The Tunisians have conserved the historical centre by ensuring that facilities developed for tourists tend to be a little way outside the town centre. Hammamet has two ‘zones touristiques’. There is a long strip of hotels to the northeast and Hammamet Yasmine, a new development opened in 2000 by President Ben Ali. The beaches around the town are excellent and stretch almost uninterrupted all the way north to Nabeul.
