From Carthage to Modern Tunisia...

Tunisia, a small north African country by geography, but Arab by culture, has a rich cultural, traditional and social heritage, reaching back to the thousands of years ago. There are many cultures and races forming the mosaic of people living in Tunisia today. It is possible to see the people living and working in a hich-tech environment side by side with nomadic people who live in tents and migrate continuously with their herds of camels and sheep from one area to the other all year-long.
There are a number of important civilizations which took place on this land since the antiquity. Initially it started with the Phoenician settlement and colonization. Then Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Ottomans and French assumed the control over the land and its people. By being very successful maritime traders, Phoenicians taught the local Berbers advanced forms of agriculture and urban living. All the other successive civilizations left something behind to make the modern Tunisia today, very interesting and attractive for modern-day travellers.

Tunisia today is an impressive Arab country with a modern infrastructure, a stable government and a strong economy. The government-sponsored health care system is one of the best administered ones among the Arab league countries. There is also a relatively advanced social security system which provides a reasonable life standard for aged, disabled and retired citizens of the country.

The French domination until the full independence in 1956, has contributed heavily to the elegant architecture and advanced town planning of the Tunisian cities. There are many parks, wide boulevards, sidewalk cafes, and an effective public transport system.

The eastern and the western influence on the arts, culture and social life of Tunisian people is very obvious. The attitude of the Tunisian people to foreigners is very friendly. Although the official language is Arabic but French is widely spoken and naturally English is also very common. Tunisia is considered to be the most attractive tourist destination in Africa, ahead of Egypt and Kenya.