Join us as we explore the suprising city of Tunis, just one hour by air from Rome. Tunis is a place of startling contrasts where a French-style boulevarde lined with its cafes and patisseries in the Ville Nouvelle leads to the souks, hammams, mosques and historic houses in the centuries-old medina. A local train takes us to the ruins of Carthage overlooking the sea and the ancient Punic harbours, and we then go on to the town of Sidi bou Said with its charming whitewashed houses. We end our visit with a sample of the magnificent mosaics of the Bardo Museum.

SUGGESTED READING

• Barnaby Rogerson and Rose Baring, Tunisia, London: Cardogan, 1998 – excellent for detailed discussion of georgraphy, ancient sites, mosques historical buildings, museums and cultural history
• David Willert, Tunisia, Melbourne: Lonely Planet, 2004, – very good for the practical side of travel – transport, hotels, food. Brief historical /cultural information. Prices may be out of date by now