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The World | |
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The Sahel |
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Tunisia,
The Sahel The Sahel: The Sahel today is the most densely populated region of Tunisia. A common feature of the sun-bleached villages which dot the stony landscape is the cultivation of olive and fruit trees. In the small country museums there are collections of gold jewellery dating back many centuries and this is still a speciality of town artisans today. The region is traditionally known for its weaving. The visitor will especially appreciate the cottons of Ksar Hellal and the wool embroidery of Mahdia and El Jem (see Historic Sites section). Some of the smallest villages offer the most original handicrafts; the inhabitants of Hergla, for example, make the alfalfa filters that are used all over the country in olive presses. Many of the towns and villages in the Sahel stand on the remains of Roman or Punic urban centres. The museums of Sousse and El Jem have collections of unusually rich mosaics which show the extraordinary wealth of the area during the Roman era. It was for this reason that the Arabs founded their most important capitals, Kairouan, an important spiritual centre, and Mahdia, today an important holiday centre, in this region. Sousse: , a major port and Tunisia's third-largest city, is set in a convenient central position on the eastern coast. The sand beaches, with horse and camel riding, reach beyond Port el Kantaoui, 7km (4 miles) to the north (see below). Most of Sousse's beach hotels are outside the modern town, whose cafés, bars, discos and excellent restaurants are alternative attractions to the hotels' in-house activities and folklore evenings. Impressive ancient ramparts surround the old town. The 8th-century Ribat is one of a chain of fortified monasteries built to defend North Africa from Christian attacks. The men and women who inhabited its spartan quarters vowed to die if necessary to preserve the Muslim faith. Its watchtower gives a splendid view over the medina, as does the garden terrace of Sousse's museum - whose intriguing 'cartoon strip' mosaics should be seen, especially by those who have not visited the Bardo Museum in Tunis. Port el Kantaoui is a garden village which has an 18-hole championship golf course and a marina. Several of the hotels have spacious lawns facing the soft sand beach. There are good opportunities for sea fishing from here. Monastir is 24km (15 miles) further south, an intimate and fashionable small resort which is famous for its 10th-century mosque. The town is served by Skanes - Monastir's airport. Monastir is a mixture of ancient and modern. The 20th century has given Monastir other attractions, such as the elegant yacht marina which nestles between small sandy coves. There are many festivals throughout the high season, horseracing to watch and a museum of Islamic arts to visit. A new rail link to Sousse has recently opened; this helps to attract business people to its well-equipped International Convention Centre. There is now a second golf course near the town. 21km (13 miles) to the south is the market town of Moknine. Part of its population is Jewish and the traditional jewellery items they make are among the exhibits in the town's fascinating little folk museum. Mahdia: , 25km (17 miles) further along the coast, is a fishing port and beach resort, a town with an important place in Arab Muslim history. The all-powerful Obaid Allah, known as the Mahdi, developed it in the 10th century as a stronghold and capital of the Fatimite Dynasty. |