North Africa

About the destination: With a warm, sandy Mediterranean coastline, perfumed with jasmine and sea breezes, Tunis is reinventing itself as a boldly modern Arab capital. The city is passionate about preserving its Mediterranean traditions as well as its Arabic and African origins. This mindset is mirrored in its architecture, with the ancient Arab medina situated next to the French colonial Ville Nouvelle (New Town). Like any other Arabic metropolis, the medina is the historical and spiritual center of the city. The labyrinthine streets of the medina are bustling with people selling, buying, and transporting goods, all amidst the aroma of spices. The contrast with the palm trees and café terraces of the ville nouvelle's avenue Habib Bourguiba could not be more stark. Elderly men in traditional attire observe office workers in suits and the youth in jeans and shirts passing by: this is Tunis. In the suburbs lie the magnificent Bardo Museum and the awe-inspiring and enigmatic ruins of ancient Carthage, from where Hannibal embarked on his journey to lead his elephants over the Alps. Also nearby is Tunisia's most picturesque village, Sidi Bou Said, a source of inspiration for many artists, and the stunning white-sand beaches of La Marsa. Tunis is a lively yet relaxed capital city that embraces its Western and Eastern influences and proudly showcases its cultural heritage.