Famous landmarks in Tunisia

Tunisia is a country in North Africa on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the northernmost country in Africa, and it borders Algeria to the west and Libya to the south-east. Its capital, Tunis, lies near the ruins of ancient Carthage. Tunisia has long sandy beaches in the north and east and the Sahara Desert in the south.

Tunisia is known for its ancient Roman ruins, whitewashed villages, olive groves and desert landscapes. On the globe you can find the Amphitheatre of El Jem, the Great Mosque of Kairouan and the Antonine Baths of Carthage, plus Matmata, where underground homes appeared in the Star Wars films.

Geography and nature

Northern Tunisia is green, with forests of cork oak and the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains. The centre has steppes and huge olive groves; Tunisia is one of the world's biggest producers of olive oil. Further south, the land turns to desert. Chott el Djerid is a vast salt flat that shimmers with mirages, and beyond it lie the dunes of the Sahara. Off the coast is the island of Djerba. Fennec foxes, desert gazelles and flamingos live in different parts of the country.

People, languages and culture

Arabic is the official language, and people speak Tunisian Arabic every day; French is widely used, and some people speak Berber languages. Almost all Tunisians are Muslim. Couscous is a beloved dish, along with brik, a crispy pastry with egg, and harissa, a spicy red pepper paste. The village of Sidi Bou Said, with its white walls and bright blue doors, is famous. Tunisians enjoy mint tea with pine nuts, and markets called souks sell carpets, pottery and spices.

History in a nutshell

Phoenician sailors founded Carthage about 2,800 years ago, and it became a great sea power; its general Hannibal crossed the Alps with elephants to attack Rome. Rome destroyed Carthage in 146 BCE and later rebuilt it, and Roman towns such as El Jem flourished. In the 600s Arab armies brought Islam and founded Kairouan. Tunisia later came under the Ottoman Empire, then France from 1881. It became independent on 20 March 1956. In 2011 a popular uprising in Tunisia began the movement known as the Arab Spring.