Tunisia
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Access
Tunisia can be reached from Italy by air with direct flights from Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino, Rome Ciampino, Naples and other airports to Tunis-Carthage International Airport (TUN), the country's main hub, and to the airports of Monastir Habib Bourguiba (MIR), Sfax-Thyna (SFA) and Tozeur-Nafta (TOE) for southern destinations. Tunisia can also be reached by sea thanks to the ferry services connecting Civitavecchia, Genoa, Palermo and Trapani to Tunis and La Goulette, mainly operated by Grimaldi Lines, GNV and CTN (Compagnie Tunisienne de Navigation); ferries from Palermo and Trapani to Tunis and Bizerte offer the shortest crossing times (around 11-24 hours). For those transiting by land, the Ras Jedir pass connects Tunisia with Libya; there is no direct land connection with Italy. The internal network relies on the Tunisian Railways (SNCFT) for connections between Tunis, Sfax, Sousse and Gabès; the main motorway network is the A1 motorway that connects Tunis to Sfax. Urban and interurban public transport is operated by Transtu (Tunis bus and light metro) and regional bus companies.
.Introduction
Tunisia is the northernmost state on the African continent, facing the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east, in a geographical position that makes it the closest African country to Europe (about 150 km from the Sicilian coast). The territory stretches from north to south through very diverse landscapes: the Mediterranean Tell coast in the north, with fertile hills and plains, gives way to the inland highlands in the centre, the chotts (seasonal salt lakes) of the Chott el-Jérid and finally the southern Saharan expanse. The Atlas chain reaches Tunisia in its eastern offshoot, with the Djebel Chambi (1,544m) as its highest peak. The country borders Algeria to the west and Libya to the south-east. Tunisia played a leading role in the Arab Spring of 2010-2011 and distinguished itself as the North African country that made the most advanced transition to democracy, before undergoing an authoritarian turn with the concentration of power in the hands of President Kais Saied from 2021.
Description
The Tunisian territory is marked by a sharp geographical gradient between north and south. Northern Tell, where most of the population is concentrated, is a region of hills and plains with a Mediterranean climate; the Medjerda (460 km, including the Algerian section), the country's main river, flows through these fertile plains before flowing into the Mediterranean north of Tunis. The eastern Sahel, along the coast of the Ionian Sea, is the main olive-growing area: Tunisia is the fourth largest olive oil producer in the world. The central highlands, between 600 and 1,000 m altitude, slope down to the large southern chotts: the Chott el-Jérid (about 5,000 km² at most) is the largest in the country and dries up almost completely in summer. The Djebel Chambi (1,544m), on the border with Algeria in the governorate of Kasserine, is the highest point, covered by Pinus halepensis forests and included in the Chambi National Park.
The history of Tunisia is anchored in the foundation of Carthage by the Phoenicians around 814 BC. Carthage's expansion into the Mediterranean led to the Punic Wars with Rome (264-146 BC), which ended with the destruction of the city. The Romanisation of the territory - a province of Proconsular Africa - was profound: rebuilt Carthage became the fourth city of the Roman Empire. Christianity spread early (Tertullian, Augustine of Hippo, the Scillonian martyrs); the Islamic conquest of 647 A.D. opened a new cultural chapter, with the foundation of Kairouan (670 A.D.), considered the fourth holy city of Islam and the first Arab city in the Maghreb. Subsequent Hafside and Ottoman dynasties and finally the French protectorate (1881-1956) shaped the current structure. Independence was proclaimed on 20 March 1956 under Habib Bourguiba, who led the country until 1987. The regime of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali (1987-2011) was overthrown by street demonstrations in January 2011, triggered by the self-immolation of the young Mohamed Bouazizi in Sidi Bouzid.
The Tunisian economy is among the most diversified in the Maghreb: tourism, phosphates, oil and gas, olive and oil production, textiles and contract manufacturing (mainly for Europe), fishing and emigrant remittances are the main pillars. Tunisia is among the world's largest producers of phosphates. Tunis is the economic and cultural centre, flanked by Sfax as the second industrial centre.
Tunisia has a very dense historical and cultural heritage: the medina of Tunis (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979) and the site of Carthage (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979) are both located in the capital area. The amphitheatre of El Jem, among the largest in the Roman world, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The Archaeological Site of Dougga (ancient Thugga) and the site of Kerkouane (pre-Roman Punic city) complete the list of Tunisian UNESCO sites. The Malouf musical tradition, of Andalusian origin, is practised in the brotherhoods of Tunis, Bizerte and Testour.
Protected areas include the Chambi National Park (established in 1980), the National Park of l'Ichkeul (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 and Biosphere Reserve), a freshwater lake that is home to large migrating waterfowl such as the common coot (Fulica atra), flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) and wild goose (Anser anser), and the Boukornine National Park near Tunis.
Tunisian hiking is mainly developed in the areas of northern Tell, the central highlands and southern Sahara. Djebel Chambi (1,544m), the highest point in the country, is included in an area with access restrictions for security reasons (presence of armed groups reported until 2019); the Tunisian authorities have periodically suspended visits. The Djebel Zaghouan (1,295m), near Tunis, is a more accessible hiking destination. Trails in the southern Sahara, between the dunes of the Erg Oriental near Douz and the oases of Tozeur and Nefta, combine sand trekking and chott landscapes.
There is no developed mountaineering tradition in Tunisia. The modest altitudes of the mountain system (maximum 1,544m) and the predominantly hilly nature of the terrain have not favoured the development of the discipline. The crags of Zaghouan are frequented by local climbers.
Trail running in Tunisia has developed around competitions in the southern desert: the Sahara Trail Dunes takes place in the sand dunes near Douz. The hills of northern Tell offer terrain for local races.
Information
General Data
Capital: Tunis
Area: 163,610 km²
Minimum elevation: -17m (Chott el-Jérid, seasonally averaged; variable value)
Maximum elevation: 1,544m - Djebel Chambi
Number of inhabitants: 12.351,444 (2023 census)
Official name: الجمهورية التونسية (al-Jumhūriyya at-Tūnisiyya)
Name of inhabitants: Tunisians
Main administrative subdivisions: 24 governorates
Bordering countries: Algeria - Libya
Institutional website: https://www.tap.info.tn / https://www.pm.gov.tn