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Located on the northern coast of Africa, Tunisia has boundaries with Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east.

The Atlas Mountains divide the country into two regions, the well-watered north and the semi-arid south. The northern region, which contains the Kroumirie Forest, Bizerte, and the Medjerda River Valley, is further divided into three subregions: the northwest, with extensive cork forests; the north central, with its fertile grasslands, and the northeast from Tunis to Cap Bon, noted for its livestock, citrus fruits and garden produce.

The southern regions contains a central plateau and a desert area in the extreme south, which merges into the Sahara and is characterised by the date palm oases and saline lakes. The Medjerda Mountains, which run from Kroumirie to Bizerte, and the Tebessa Mountains (or Massif Meridional), in the southern region, are the two most important mountain ranges. The Medjerda, the most important river system, rises in Algeria and drains into the Gulf of Tunis.

Tunisia is more than an excellent place to play golf in the winter: on a small surface you can find real deserts with beautiful oasis, old cities, lots of carpets and fine beaches. Combined with the good climate, warm people and good opportunities for a relaxed holiday make Tunisia a popular destination.

One of the more striking features of a visit to Tunisia is that every single city you visit seems really old. Tunisia has been a part of Phoenician, Carthagenian, Byzantic, Roman, Arab, Turkish and French empires and they all left their beautiful traces here. Tunis and Carthage date back to pre-roman times, El jem has its own Coliseum. Kairouan is considered a young city; it was founded in the 6-th century by the Arabs.

The coast of Tunisia is beuatiful. Towns like Mahdia , Sousse , Sfax and Monastir are worth a visit. The beaches are quite nice. You might try to avoid staying in the big tourist traps on the coast, however, there it is quite hard to appreciate real Tunisian life.

The west is rugged mountain land. One of the coolest things to do here is take the 'lezard rouge' in Metlaoui . The lezard is a train from 1920 that winds its way through mountain gorges.

The south of Tunisia is mostly desert. A striking sight in this region are the cave dwellings in Matmata . This is where Star Wars was filmed! The island of Jerba is also a great place to go in the south.

Culture

Modern Tunisians are the descendents of indigenous Berbers and of people from numerous civilizations that have invaded, migrated to, and been assimilated into the population over the millenia. Recorded history in Tunisia begins with the arrival of Phoenicians, who founded Carthage and other North African settlements in the 8th century BC. Carthage became a major sea power, clashing with Rome for control of the Mediterranean until it was defeated and captured by the Romans in 146 B.C. The Romans ruled and settled in North Africa until the 5th century when the Roman Empire fell and Tunisia was invaded by European tribes, including the Vandals. The Muslim conquest in the 7th century transformed Tunisia's and the make-up of its population, with subsequent waves of migration from around the Arab and Ottoman world, including significant numbers of Spanish Moors and Jews at the end of the 15th century. Tunisia became a center of Arab culture and learning and was assimilated into the Turkish Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. It was a French protectorate from 1881 until independence in 1956, and retains close political, economic, and cultural ties with France.

Nearly all Tunisians (98% of the population) are Muslim. There has been a Jewish population on the southern island of Djerba for 2000 years, and there remains a small Jewish population in Tunis which is descended from those who fled Spain in the late 15th century. There is no indigenous Christian population. Small nomadic indigenous minorities have been mostly assimilated into the larger population.

There are presently about 50 art Galleries hosting all kinds of exhibitions by international and Tunisian artists. Among these galleries, the "House of Live Arts" in Belvedere-Tunis, the "Galerie Yahia" in Tunis, the "Galerie Essaadi" in Carthage, the "Galeries Cherif Fine Arts and Ammar Farhat" in Sidi Bou Said, the "Espace Ken" in Bouficha, the "Espace Mille-Feuille" in La Marsa and the "Galerie la Kasbah" in Sfax.

The Carthage international film festival, created in 1962, is held every two years. It is also in Tunisia that the Federation of African Film Directors was born in 1970.

Tunisian cinema, though relatively young, is a very rich and diversified form of artistic expression. Productions include most genres (action films, social exposes, dramas, political essays, etc.). Films, like Ferid Boughedir's "Halfaouine", and Moufida Tlatli's "The Silences of the Palace" have won international acclaim.

Tunisia is increasing the shooting location for major international film productions. Recently shot fims include Star Wars and The English Patient.

Tunisian theater was marked in the fifties by the contribution of an outstanding man of the stage, Ali Ben Ayed, whose dedication lead to the birth of private troupes.

The Ministry of Culture later set up the National Theater (the Palace of Kheireddine,) the Regional Drama Centers of El Kef and Gafsa and the National Puppet Center.

Tunisian music is characterized by the diversity of its modes (Maqamat) and its variety of rhythms. Among the main forms of classical Tunisian music, there is the Nouba (oldest and most authentic form of Andalusian origin,) the Chghoul and the Bachraf (of Turkish origin.)

In addition, Tunisian music has also been influenced by "Foundou" and "Zindali", two main popular forms of music.

The Arab Orient (mainly Egypt, Syria and Lebanon) has also had an influence on Tunisian music. The Rashidia Institute, created in 1934 to preserve, teach and promote the national heritage, public and private music schools, and the National Broadcasting System (created in 1938,) all have contributed to the development of Tunisian music and helped it reach wider audiences.

Among the best known Tunisian musicians, singers and composers are Khemais Tarnane, Raoul Journou, Saliha, Saleh Mehdi, Ali Riahi and Hedi Jouini.

Tunisian museums contain invaluable masterpieces. Housed in a former nineteenth century Beylical Palace, The Bardo Museum boasts the largest collection of Roman mosaics in the world.