Where to go in the city of Sousse. Stories captured in the sights of Sousse

Small but interesting museum in the center of the medina. This place for a long time served as a place for the overnight stay of pilgrims who, in Sousse, boarded ships to Egypt in order to get to Mecca. Under the French protectorate, the building became a hotel.

This museum does not have the usual halls. The expositions are located in the former rooms of the hotel, and visitors watch them through the doors from the courtyard. The expositions show scenes from the life of Tunisians in the old days. There are many interesting scenes here: cooking couscous, working with yarn, officials and merchants. Of course, a large exposition is devoted to preparations for the wedding.

In the basement of the building you can see the hammam, and on the roof, a dome with curved ribs, unique in Tunisia.

Another small but interesting museum in the medina. Unfortunately, it is located far from the main route, near the western wall. Still need to try to find it.

The museum was created on the basis of the house of a wealthy Turkish official, and it is called “gift”, which is translated from Arabic as “house”.

Inside you can see a collection of furniture, dishes and other household items from the Ottoman era. Imagine how the rich Tunisians of that time lived.

On the top floor, you can sit in a comfortable chair with a cup of tea or coffee, relax and look at the medina from above.

These catacombs are a huge cemetery. It was probably originally an underground Punic necropolis, and in the 2nd-4th centuries it was expanded and Christians began to be buried here.

About 15,000 people are buried in the catacombs. Part of this underground labyrinth is open to visitors. The longest such piece is called “Pasteur”, it is 1.6 kilometers long.

In 2017, the catacombs were completely closed to visitors. We hope they open again. The entrance to the catacombs is located on Rue Abdelhamid Lasska, 1.5 kilometers west of the medina. You can take a taxi for 3-4 dinars.

Port El Kantaoui is located to the west of the city, you can get from Sousse hotels in 5-10 minutes for 5-10 dinars.

In El Kantaoui, you can go to and watch musical shows. All shops and shopping centers El Kantaoui is at the disposal of vacationers in Sousse. If you drive a little further into the resort area of El Kantaoui, you will find a local one.

In El Kantaoui, the port is also interesting, where you can book a trip on a catamaran, a pirate ship or a boat with a transparent bottom. Local cafes pour beer and wine. Not far from the entrance to the port is a local one where they sell strong alcohol.

From railway station Bab Jdid in Sousse to Monastir and Mahdia runs a comfortable train.

You can get to Monastir in 30 minutes and 1 dinar. Here you can see, and the Great Mosque, and.

You can get to Mahdia in 1.5 hours and 3 dinars. Here you can see the Black Gate, the fish market and the ancient Arab and Ottoman forts that once protected the coast. The main attraction is the Archaeological Museum of Mahdia, where part of the collection of the Mahdia shipwreck is exhibited.

Perhaps this is the end of our story about the resort of Sousse. Read other interesting articles about Tunisia on our website website ( links below).

So, Tunisia ! We returned a week ago and am writing a review almost immediately, while the memories are fresh. Although we enjoyed our vacation in Tunisia so much that wonderful memories will never go away.)) To be honest, Tunisia was considered as an alternative to our beloved Egypt. Of course these are two different countries and they should not be compared. Tunisia is different. Another sea, other people and so on. But I really liked Tunisia and I did not regret that I chose this country. She is so beautiful and full of history. What wonderful cities! Just a fairy tale. Of course, there are also disadvantages and I will definitely write about them. But I will say right away that I always fly to rest with a positive attitude, so everything is always fine with me.

And so, we arrived at 5 in the morning and such hot, humid air immediately entered our lungs as soon as we got on the ladder. Wow, I knew right away it was going to be hot. City at 5 am from the window tourist bus I didn’t see it very well, I only managed to notice that there is a lot of greenery in Tunisia, there are even Christmas trees, or they ate. Very surprising))

We lived in a hotel LTI El Ksar Resort. Detailed review I will write about it later. Now quite a bit about him, and then about the city and the country as a whole. They settled us right away, because we gave 20 euros. We are already accustomed to this, because according to international standards, check-in takes place after 12, sometimes even clearly at 14.00. But who wants to sit and wait for check-in from early in the morning? Money works wonders. The people who came with us on the bus also put money in their passports and everyone was immediately settled. I’ll write right away, for me this is not a minus, but already as commonplace.)) For someone it’s still wild to give money to settle, but excuse me, everyone chooses the path for himself. We settled in a beautiful spacious room with a safe, plasma, a huge bed and a view of the beautiful bougainvilleas, then we ran for breakfast and the sea! This is what we came here for!

About the sea. Oh, you can write about him for a long time. In Tunisia, the Mediterranean Sea and it is simply divine! Yes, exactly like that and no other word)) It is so clean, beautiful, exciting. Soft soft sand underfoot and nothing more. Sometimes the waves were very big, like on the ocean. Once a couple of times, the sky was covered with clouds, there was a small storm and the waves were very huge, but on the contrary, it was cool. Everyone jumped on the waves and rejoiced like children. Adult men squealed with joy)) The only thing was that the algae brought too much. But they did not interfere with enjoying the sea.

Beach. I don’t know how it is in other cities, but in Sousse the general coastline. That is, I can go along the shore from my hotel to a neighboring hotel or through a hotel or further further further, then to city beaches. Someone saw the minuses in this, I didn’t)) Well, so what? Yes, there are vendors on the beach. They sell tunics, scarves, fruits, nuts, and all sorts of little things. But they are absolutely not annoying, they will ask, you don’t need it, no thanks, goodbye. For all the days of rest, we even managed to make friends with them. And not only us)) Yes, locals walk past the beach, but then again, they are also not annoying, they don’t look at you as prey and so on. They walk past, communicate with each other and that's it. Athletes often run past. The tractor rides in the morning, collects garbage. It doesn't stress anything at all. Everything is very civilized, calm. The beaches are cleaned every day from algae and everything else. Everything is so fast and really, it's nice to see!)

About living creatures. More precisely, about jellyfish, about which they write a lot. I also thought about them. And she was afraid. But the jellyfish were there for a couple of days and only a few pieces on the entire huge beach. So big, bright blue, you can see it from afar, insanely beautiful. It's cool to watch, but it's better to swim around them, of course. Fearless Russian men even caught them and showed them to the whole beach. All the people ran to look at the blue miracle)) There is no one else from living creatures, except for small fish. By the way, at night, on our beach, the fishermen were very well located, and so they sat by the shore with a fishing rod for hours. Still, probably at night, someone bigger swims up to the shores)) Because in the mornings, a peasant walked along the beach with a fresh catch. Probably the locals buy it. Where do we, tourists, have fresh fish then)) About the night beach - this is generally a separate issue. What a thrill it is, what a relaxation just to sit on the beach at night and look at the sea, these waves, this noise. Just a thrill. And if you walk barefoot along the coast, along the water, it is so warm. Romance, in general)) And unforgettable emotions!

About people. I read a lot of negativity and to be honest, now, having returned from Tunisia, I do not understand those who write terrible things about the local population. Maybe, of course, they were not in Egypt. There, unfortunately, the people are wild. But in Tunisia, you are calm. You walk down the street and everyone smiles at you, greets you. No one sees off with a vulgar look and does not think that if you smiled and said hello, then that's it, you want to get acquainted, get married and so on. . If I was nice to someone, they would make a maximum compliment, ask how things were going and no more, no harassment. No one ever said anything afterward. No one leans out of the cars and shouts different words (well, you yourself understood what) ... Well, I just haven’t watched this even once, for the life of me)). When you walk through the city past shops and shops, no one bothers "buy buy, good price The sellers see that you are passing by, you don’t need anything, and that’s okay. It was just peaceful to calmly walk around the city. Just walk, just look around, studying the people passing by, houses, hotels, shops and so on. The police are generally just darlings)) Firstly, it seemed to me that they were all there as a match. All such tall handsome men. I didn’t see many others. You go, you look from afar and you think: what a formidable policeman, holding a machine gun, his ear is sharp, when you get closer, he tells you "good afternoon/morning/evening" and smiles and you understand that he is not so formidable)) Although, if you look closely, you can see that he is "observing"))

By the way, about security. There are a lot of police in the city. And when we first arrived, there were fewer of them, then there were more. Often, there were traffic jams on the roads due to police control. They checked every car. There are a lot of guards at the entrance to the hotels and they also check cars, passengers, inspect the car with a mirror, write down everything. It pleased. I didn't feel any pressure or danger at all. The police also walk along the beach.

About the city of Sousse, where to go, what to see. In general, there is not much interesting in Sousse. The most that you can see outside the hotel, where to go is Medina(there is also a fortress Ribat And great mosque), port El Kantaoui. And, in principle, everything. But it's very interesting. To feel the local flavor, be sure to visit the Medina. This is such an old part of the city, it is surrounded by a huge stone wall and is protected by UNESCO. Locals live there and it so happened that a market was formed. You can buy everything in this market. Bargaining is mandatory, the price can be brought down by half, or even less. We bought a camel skin painting there. 3 magnets for 2 dinars, T-shirts for children and adults (6-10 dinars) and a lot of other stuff. And it's just very interesting to wander through the streets of the Medina, very colorful. You feel like you're in The Clone. In the same place, near the entrance, stands the ancient fortress of Ribat. This is the first Arab building in Sousse. Entrance costs 7 dinars. We even climbed a high 30-meter tower. It offers an amazing view of Sousse (the port and the Medina). And in general, it is interesting to wander around the tower, through its rooms. We even found baths. Very interesting. ADVICE : as soon as you arrive / arrive at the Medina, locals will start coming up to you and will say with a smile: "oh, your hotel, I know you. I work for you as a cook, or as a security guard, let me show you everything." No, don't get fooled by any means. This is a very bearded local divorce. Then they will ask you for money for this excursion and of course, these people are not from your hotel)) Yes, they earn as much as they can. But nothing, they just refused and went for a walk themselves)) They only approached us a couple of times and that's it, then no one else touched it.

Now about the port of El Kantaoui. This is such a small resort in a resort)) In the port, it’s just interesting to walk along the embankment, look at beautiful yachts and ships, sit in a cafe and drink local tea with pine nuts, and you can also visit the Hannibal Park amusement park. There are very cool and scary rides that are simply breathtaking. The ticket scheme is simple. Buy for example 25 tickets. This is 25 dinars. Go to the slides, it says - 9. So you count 9 tickets and give them to the controller. And so it is with everyone. Children's attractions cost from 1 to 6 dinars, or rather tickets. There are a lot of different carousels for children, so it’s just great to go there with children. My child was happy.

As in any tourist place, in Sousse there are just a lot of cafes, restaurants, bars. We checked out in several places. Sweet for a year ahead you can overeat in a cafe Casa Del Gelato. Simply incredibly delicious and at the same time beautiful ice cream desserts! With fruits, cookies, cream and other things. You can just take a few balls of ice cream and go for a walk around the city. There are a lot of types of ice cream, so your eyes just run up)) There is also a restaurant Mio Mondo. It is popular with both tourists and the local population. In the evenings there is a full house. And all because there is a cool hookah and seafood you can eat delicious and fresh. And the prices are quite democratic. We used to hang out there when they showed football, the European Championship))

On vacation, I don't like to sit in a hotel. so I took a few excursions from the guide. prices are pretty decent too. The first excursion is a reserve. This is such a zoo, it is very huge and the animals there are not exhausted, they are in their natural environment. The coolest thing is that you can feed a giraffe, lemurs, hold a turtle and a huge ostrich egg there. All this, of course, for an additional fee, but we came to rest, not to count money)) In general, we are delighted with the zoo with the whole family.

I also went on a tour "Tunis-Carthage-Sidi Bou Said-Bordeaux". I already went alone. without a child, because the tour is from 7 am to 5 pm, a lot of time on the bus. yes, it's not interesting little child, why torture?) I really liked the tour. We first visited the capital of Tunisia - the city of Tunis. It was very interesting to see how the capital lives and breathes. Tunisia - as it turned out, a huge city with all the infrastructure and it is constantly being built. Construction sites are everywhere, just everywhere)) Then we went to Carthage. This ancient city. It was very interesting to see and listen to the guide (by the way, we got just a wonderful guide). From Carthage we went to Baths (terms) Anthony Pia. They are next to the archaeological park and are the largest ruins of Roman Carthage. They cover an area of 1.8 hectares. Then to the blue and white city. It is also called the city of artists and it is not surprising that pictures from this city can be painted in such a way that it will take your breath away. Realistically, such beautiful city I haven't seen yet. It really is blue and white. White house and blue doors and windows. And flowers flowers flowers, bright ones. In general, for the photographer, too, a fairy tale. So observation deck offers a simply magnificent view of the port and the sea. It was unforgettably easy! I was so staring, daydreaming that I forgot about the time and almost missed the bus))

And the last thing. What to bring from Tunisia. Oh, how surprised I was when I read that people don’t know how to take everything out of Tunisia)) WHAT they buy more suitcases and stuff. Really surprised. We got almost the same thing. We had to buy another travel bag to put things in there, and what we bought - in a suitcase. What did we buy?

- Olive oil. 1 liter is about 10-12 dinars, which is more than 300 rubles. We have a liter costs about 100 rubles. Oil must be taken extra virgin and acidity 0.8%. We took two tin cans. They are lighter

- Halva. Roe deer packaging. Very tasty. And simple, and with nuts. Just lick your fingers. The cost seems to be about 3-4 dinars for a large jar.

- Turkish Delight. Also very tasty, took several boxes with different flavors. For yourself and as a gift.

- Dates in a box. There are many of them, they are cheap, they are very tasty and healthy.

- Confiture. Cactus, fig and date. There is nothing even to write here. Deliciousness. The most with pancakes!

- Seasoning Harissa. Very spicy but very tasty. Enough for a long time for sure, tk. Just a little bit is enough for a whole plate of something.

- Seasonings. Oh, they are all delicious and beyond listing. I don't remember, to be honest. If you are a condiment lover, you are in Tunisia))

- Tibarin. Date liqueur. Very strong, like cognac.

- Cedratin. Also a liqueur made from dates, figs and some exotic herbs. I really liked him) Test piece!))

- Hair oil Vatika and Amla. Oils are for all time. I love them and have been using them since Egypt. They sell the same ones. Very cool. The hair is soft. silky and smell delicious.

- Coffee Bondin. Just delicious coffee. It must be brewed, not soluble.

- White seeds. My friend loves them very much. He says that in Russia they are not like in the Arab countries. Well, I believe him

- Miswak toothpaste. It tastes disgusting, but they say there is an effect, healing and whitening. I've been cleaning for a few days now and will continue and look at the effect))

- Soap. We bought different soaps and brought them. It is all natural, smells delicious, perfectly cleanses and does not dry the skin.

- Clay seaweed mask for face and body. Very cool. The skin is just silk after it. In general, cosmetics in Tunisia are very good, they are all natural, based on natural ingredients.

- The rest is the same, little things, magnets, postcards, a picture, small sweets. In general, we got a good deal))

Finishing my review of Tunisia, I want to write that with what attitude you fly, you will get it. Yes, there are some disadvantages in this country and the city is dirty, the government did not solve this problem after the revolution. But I came to rest. not look for cons. And had a great rest. And I will definitely return to this country, because I didn’t try everything, I didn’t spend all the money. There are dinars left)) The people here are calm, not annoying. And at the hotel we were always greeted with a smile. You smile, they smile at you. In general, this is Tunisia for me. beautiful, colorful and already loved))

Tunisia is famous unusual story. Thus, the foundation of the city of Suss is approaching the period of the 9th century BC, at that time this settlement was one of the key trading centers of Phoenicia. After a long time, in the VI century BC. the small town came under the influence of Carthage. And during the Second Punic War Suss was a kind of base for the legendary Carthaginian commander Hannibal during the military campaign, which was organized to fight the Roman legions under the leadership of Scipio.

During the Third Punic War, the city was commonly known as Hadrumetum. Very soon he joined the side of the Romans, thanks to which he was able to get many significant privileges. And yet, Hadrumetum very soon lost his privileges, after taking the side of Pompeii during a collision with Caesar. After a while, the city was able to recover, and all because of its unique strategic geographical location, extensive olive groves. However, already in the year 238 AD, the city of Suss, alas, was once again thrown back in development, all because of the disastrous participation during the Gordian uprising.

During the reign of Diocletian from 284 to 305 AD. the city of Sousse became incredibly important. Whereas during the Byzantine Empire, the settlement turned into real capital province of Bizacena. A little later, the Vandals captured it, naming it in their own way - Hunerikopolis. Soon the Byzantines rebuilt it again, renaming it Justinianopolis.

At the end of the 7th century, Suss was conquered by the hordes of Okba-ibn Nafi-Arab, but during the capture such a tough rebuff was presented that as a result the city was completely destroyed. As a result, in modern Sousse it is almost impossible to find the ruins of Roman times, if you do not take into account the catacombs. Already in the 9th century, under the Aghlabids, they founded a new town called Susa. Its functional purpose in those days was a port for the capital of those times, Kairouan. During these times, the following memorable places were erected: the walls of the city, the Kasbah fortress, the Great Mosque of Sousse, and the Ribat tower.

Sousse - why you need to visit the resort?

Sousse is one of the most frequently visited resorts in Tunisia. This is a wonderful choice for those tourists who prefer sightseeing and educational type of recreation in combination with high comfort and coziness of new hotels and the opportunity to visit memorable historical places.

On the one hand, there is a great variety of cultural monuments, many interesting places for active leisure. On the other hand, there are chic hotels that stretch in a strict line along the beaches. The ancient center of Medina attracts all admirers of cultural, developing recreation.

The heart of Sousse - the ancient city of Medina

Medina is an ancient city in Sousse, simply an incredible example of the Arab architecture of Tunisia from ancient times, which has been preserved in almost perfect condition almost from the depths of centuries.

Arriving in Sousse, every tourist is obliged to visit the Medina. Such crowded local streets are surrounded by a 2-kilometer ring of dense walls that were erected in the 859th century AD. from incredibly huge rocky blocks that have survived from the time of ancient Roman structures.

Initially, the walls of the old city had six gates, only two of them were preserved, namely: in the east side - Bab el Ghabi, in the south - Bab el Khabli.

Walking through the ancient quarter of the city, you get the feeling that you are a couple of centuries in the past. On the old narrow streets, houses are arranged strictly in a row, they stand so close to each other that sometimes it is simply impossible to see any gap in the gap between buildings.

In the town of Medina, every tourist has the opportunity to look at ancient memorable places, in addition, you can visit a surprisingly colorful place - the local market with its unprecedented atmosphere of the East, as well as excellent conditions for shopping.

Sousse — Ribat

The Ribat Tower is located in the northwestern side of the Main Mosque of the resort. This is one of business cards town. And all because this tower in the old days belonged to a chain of more than 800 fortresses built along the Tunni coast by the legendary Aghlabid dynasty. Only a couple of such fortifications can be seen today.

There is a legend that strictly religious warrior-monks lived in the ribats, in the old days they gave their lives for the benefit of the mission of religious service, while in moments of danger this religious army was one of the first to ward off the attacks of enemy troops.

The high-strength, powerful wall of the ribats served as additional protection for the population from the invasion of the conquering troops, moreover, it was the base for both offensive and defensive military strategies.

Many researchers put forward the hypothesis that in the future such Muslim warrior monks became a certain prototype of Christian knightly orders. Together with the Ribat, the Susskiy Ribat can rightly be called one of the best preserved memorable places on the territory of Tunisia.

Sousse - Fortress of the Kasbah

Erected back in 859 AD. on the territory of the Byzantine fort. By right, the Kasbah fortress is called one of the most majestic monuments for which the resort of Sousse is famous. Located in the fortress, the well-known 30-meter tower, named after the architect - Khalef el-Fat, is one of the most ancient towers in the whole of North Africa, which has been preserved to this day.

It is noteworthy that the upper level of the Kasbah is 50 meters higher than the same level of the Ribat, thanks to which the fortress is an excellent observation platform, from where simply incredible views of the Medina open.

Immediately after the construction of the Kasbah fortress, the Ribat tower transferred its military mission to him, today the Khalef el-Fata tower is the current lighthouse.

Sousse - archaeological museum

This excellent museum is famous for the most complete and rich collection of ancient monuments in Tunisia, second only to the Bardo Museum. The main exhibits of the museum can be attributed to the early Christian, Roman and Punic times. For a tour of the museum, it is recommended to allocate at least a couple of hours, the only way you can look at all the unique, original, old exhibits.

It is imperative to visit Hall No. 3 - it is here that incredible specimens of the mosaic are concentrated: “Apollo and the Muses” or “The Triumph of Bacchus”. In addition, we strongly recommend that you evaluate the mosaic "Medusa" - this is rightfully one of the main pearls of the entire collection, geographically it is located in hall No. 2. In addition, every tourist here has the opportunity to enjoy the amazing mosaic “Seasons, Months of the Year”, which was discovered in El Jem during excavations, the work is located in hall No. 9 of the museum.

Sousse - Great Mosque

Very reminiscent of a fortress, the legendary Great Mosque was built back in 851 AD, a couple of years after Sousse was literally restored from scratch by the Aghlabids. It is noteworthy that the construction model of another legendary Sidi Okba mosque, which is located in Kairouan, was the basis of the construction project.

Initially, the mosque had 2 watchtowers that helped protect the harbor. Only centuries later, the domes of the minarets were completed.

The original component of the building can be called an external staircase that leads to the minaret directly from the courtyard. The original crenellated walls of the fortress from the side of the courtyard, which is literally surrounded on 3 different sides by an amazing colonnade of slender arches resembling horseshoes, are exalted on huge supports, decorated with an extraordinary Kufi script.

Back in 1675, an arcade was erected right in front of the prayer hall, which is divided equally into 13 naves. Initially, there were only 3 barrel vaults in the prayer hall, and yet, by the 10th century it was called too modest, and therefore it was decided to expand the hall by adding additional 3 more elevated cross vaults to the side of the wall that turns to Mecca .

The main dome is richly decorated modern times it triumphantly rises directly above the 4th vault, and was originally placed above the vault in front of a special niche for prayer, which is equipped in the wall facing Mecca - a mihrab.

Sousse - shopping district

For those tourists who cannot imagine traveling without shopping, who like to haggle a lot, we recommend visiting the colorful shopping district of the Medina. The bright, original Rue el Agalba will take you through the Great Mosque and straight to the west side of the Medina.

In this area, which is partly covered with a roof, there are many artisans, today they are engaged in the production of wooden and metal products, a real atmosphere of oriental fuss reigns here. Traditional tourist souvenirs can be purchased right on the local central streets of the oriental market.

The shopping district is a great place to spend your afternoons exploring the local market stalls in search of original products, unique memorabilia that you will definitely want to buy and take with you for a long memory of the resort.

Sousse - Zaouia Zakkak - an architectural monument

The amazing 8-sided minaret of the legendary architectural ensemble Zauya Zakkak. The history of this memo dates back to the times Ottoman Empire, if you evaluate the style - a bit similar to the architecture of the Renaissance.

The architectural complex includes the following elements: a mausoleum, a madrasah (a special Islamic school), and a mosque. Along with the amazing minaret of the complex, another special architectural element is the courtyard arcade, which includes ancient columns.

Sousse - catacombs

They were found in 1888. The catacombs of Sousse are a collection of early Christian burials, visually it looks like a kind of labyrinth of underground galleries, halls that were made from soft local rock in such a historical period as the 2nd-4th centuries AD. e.

Previously, a pagan necropolis was most likely located on the site of the catacombs. About 15 thousand Christians shrouded in shrouds found peace in this ancient underground cemetery. The burial ceremony was performed in the niche zones of the catacombs at the level of a couple of tiers in height, the graves were covered with a marble slab on top.

Until our time, archaeological excavations were carried out only in 3 of the 4 main shafts of underground tombs. The Archaeological Museum of Sousse preserves those unique rare finds that were found in the dungeon.

An exceptionally small part of the catacombs is available for tourists to visit. Namely:

– Catacombs of Hermes (about 2.5 thousand tombs from the 3rd century)

- Catacombs of the Good Shepherd, total length - 1.6 km, there are about 6 thousand tombs from the end of the III century,

- Catacombs of Sivirus - about 5 thousand burials from the 4th century.

Sousse - complex Port El Kantaoui

This specially built tourist complex has the honor to receive an incredible tourist flow, those vacationers who arrive in Sousse in order to enjoy the sea and the clean beach to their fullest.

This complex was erected in 1979 in the Moorish style, blue and white architectural solutions became its prototype. original village Sidi Bou Said, which is located near Tunisia.

This unique resort is located near a large harbor, which is capable of receiving at least three hundred ships at one time. The complex includes a couple of luxury hotels, as well as blocks of apartments that stretch along the entire coast, a variety of shops, shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, bars, and, of course, places for sports and outdoor activities.

Sousse - local market

Anyone who wants to enjoy an even more colorful shopping experience than the usual tourist shops in the shopping area of the Medina should follow the locals to visit the Sunday Market. It was organized right in front of the entrance to the famous Catacombs of the Good Shepherd. It is here, among the noise of organized chaos, which makes it possible to completely immerse yourself in the standard trading flavor of the country, handicrafts, souvenirs, livestock and much more are presented on the trading shelves.

Sousse - Takruna village

In a very original way, in a mountainous rocky area in the middle of the plain, there is a unique old Berber village of Takruna. It is a preserved oasis of the departing Berber lifestyle.

A couple of Berber families still live in the village, tourists have a unique opportunity to visit a couple of local dwellings in order to better explore the traditional Berber interior and architecture.

Right in the heart of the village is a modest mosque, as well as the tomb of a Tunisian saint - Sidi Abd el Kader.

Sousse - La Sofra cisterns

Right behind the iron gates you can see an old underground reservoir. The powerful underground cisterns of the reservoir can be attributed to such a period of history as the ancient Roman one. Previously, they contained volumes - about 3 thousand cubic meters of water.

Sousse - dancing fountains

Or they are also called singing fountains. A magnificent sight, especially in the evening and at night. Are situated in resort area El Contaui, the fountains themselves are small in size, but give pleasure to the combination of the play of colors and music.

The city of Sousse is the capital of the eastern region of Tunisia, where the entertainment infrastructure is well developed. Modern architectural complexes well combined with well-preserved ancient streets Medina, dense olive groves. In Sousse, you will definitely find something to see, as there are many attractions here.

The city with a mild Mediterranean subtropical climate is located on the territory of picturesque bay south of Hammamet. You will not have any problems with transport, and the nearest airport of Monastir is only 12 kilometers away.

The history of this Tunisian city dates back to the 9th century BC, and the status tourist center entrenched in Sousse in the sixties of the last century. For the first time in the history of Tunisia, it was possible to consolidate tourist integrated zones here, that is, large areas allocated for the construction of various hotels and entertainment centers.

architectural landmarks

A large part of all the attractions of Tunisia is concentrated in Sousse, so tourists can be found here all year round. One of the visiting cards of Sousse is the Medina - the old part of the Tunisian port city. Since 1988, this object has the title of a monument world heritage. The medina is surrounded by high eight-meter walls, which stretch for 2250 meters. There are observation towers on the walls.

Medina is famous for the ancient tower of Kalef Al Fata, which was built in 859. Initially, the tower played the role of a lighthouse, and today every tourist can enjoy the views of Sousse from the Kalef Al Fata observation deck, located at a height of thirty meters.

The ancient monastery of Ribat, which was built from 780 to 821, has also been preserved in Sousse. The perimeter of the courtyard of the monastery-fortress is represented by numerous cells and galleries, and in one of the corners there is the Nador watchtower. To climb to it, you need to overcome 73 steps.

It is worth paying attention to the inspection of the Great Mosque of Sida-Okba, which was built in 850 in Sousse by the Aghlabids. The outer wall of the mosque is decorated in the corners with two guard round towers, and in the courtyard there is a gallery with horseshoe-shaped massive arches. The main architectural feature of the Grand Mosque is a squat minaret, which is reached by an external staircase.

If you are a fan of mosaic art, be sure to visit the Sousse Museum. It is here that the unique and most beautiful collection of mosaics in the world is collected.

If you wish and have free time, you can also visit the Kasbah fortress, the remains of Phoenician tombs, Christian catacombs, Roman buildings and Byzantine fortifications.

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Port El Kantaoui, a prestigious resort with a marina, has a huge golf course, as well as various attractions. Children will definitely enjoy the water park, the zoo and the Ice Cream House in Sousse, while adults will have a great time at the numerous discos, casinos, restaurants and bars. During the day, you can relax and improve your health in large thalassotherapy centers, and in the evening make an exciting shopping in the oriental bazaars.

GOING TO VACATION:

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Monthly weather in Sousse:

Month	Temperature		Cloudiness	Rainy days / Precipitation	Water temperature in the sea	Number of solar hours per day
Month	Happy	At night	Cloudiness	Rainy days / Precipitation	Water temperature in the sea	Number of solar hours per day

January	15.8°C	11.5°C	28.7%	1 day (15.9 mm.)	15.9°C	10 a.m. 3m.

February	15.7°C	11.2°C	28.9%	2 days (26.2 mm.)	14.6°C	10 a.m. 54m.

March	18.4°C	12.7°C	26.0%	2 days (35.8 mm.)	14.8°C	11h. 59m.

April	21.4°C	15.1°C	18.5%	1 day (19.6 mm.)	16.4°C	13h. 6m.

May	24.7°C	18.2°C	15.1%	1 day (12.9 mm.)	19.0°C	14h. 4m.

June	29.3°C	22.2°C	8.8%	-	22.7°C	14h. 33m.

July	32.6°C	25.4°C	4.7%	-	25.9°C	14h. 19m.

August	32.9°C	26.3°C	6.7%	1 day (12.8 mm.)	27.1°C	13h. 28m.

September	30.0°C	24.8°C	14.2%	2 days (30.2 mm.)	26.4°C	12h. 23m.

October	26.5°C	22.1°C	20.1%	4 days (54.7 mm.)	24.4°C	11h. 17m.

November	21.5°C	17.5°C	25.9%	2 days (29.7 mm.)	21.3°C	10 a.m. 17m.

December	17.0°C	13.3°C	27.5%	2 days (30.7 mm.)	18.2°C	9 a.m. 47m.

* This table shows average weather data collected over more than three years

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Eternal love of my husband!

"Don't you want to go to Tunisia?"

It was with this phrase that the manager at the travel agency met us. And why wouldn't you want to? Tunisia is an interesting country, with developed tourism and not so expensive vacation. In general, my husband and I decided and a week later we were met by the airport of Monastir. Almost an hour on the bus (thanks to the guide for an interesting story about the country and a wonderful view outside the window), and we are already in Sousse.

Sousse is not a big city. This is definitely not the place for ardent lovers of night parties. More like a family resort. No, there are cafes and discos in Sousse. But all this is somehow quiet and homely.

Narrow streets, which are interesting to wander around, looking at the houses local residents. Shops, a small market near the hotel and the Medina-city center, where all major shopping centers are concentrated. That's where the expanse for shopaholics :)

Sousse is a city rich history. Even without leaving it, you can get acquainted with the history of Tunisia. A lot of architectural monuments, photos of which will decorate any collection of photo tourists.

Separately, I would like to say about the people in Sousse.

Of course, there are barkers to local cafes and shops here. By hook or by crook, they will lure the tourist to their shop in order to sell him another trinket at an exorbitant price.

And there are those who will run after you half the street to say in broken English that their fruit shop will not work tomorrow. So that you do not go in vain.

1. In big family don't click your face.

2. He raised his ass - he lost his place.

As the guide said, locals on the territory of the hotels can use the beaches and pools of the hotels. But in fact - they also easily got used to the system All Inclusive and they could often be seen at dinner, which they happily absorbed at the expense of tourists who paid for their (and, it turns out, theirs too) vacation.

Was booked Standart room, but since the hotel was full, we were put in a bungalow. The room itself is not bad, large, with a kitchenette, but no utensils. Electric two-burner stove and dishwasher, but the dishes themselves are completely missing. There is also a small refrigerator, with a door that did not want to fit in any way and constantly had to prop it up with a chair. There was also an old Thomson TV, with a completely dead remote control without a back cover, with batteries constantly popping up... read more

Food and products

Food prices are comparable to prices in Russian supermarkets. The only difference is the prices for fruits and vegetables, they are cheaper. Oranges can be bought for 12 rubles, medium-quality tomatoes for 4-5 rubles. In general, the prices are quite reasonable.

Souvenirs and other goods

Clothing prices are 10-15 percent higher than in Russia. Shoes are 20 percent more expensive on average. The average price of magnets is $1 for 2-3 pieces, $50 for figurines made of wood, $100 for figurines made of stone or other decorative materials. The cost of electronics is 5-10 percent lower than in Russia.

Cost of services and entertainment

The cost of visiting a cafe or any restaurants is small, you can eat for one person for 10-12 dollars. If you eat local food, then you can keep within 5-7 dollars.

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What to take with you on vacation?

1) very light clothes for the day, something warmer for the evening, an outfit for a restaurant and an outfit for a disco, a hat, sunglasses.

2) cream for the sun and burns, for example: "Panthenol" (very useful to us).

3) I advise you to take a hair dryer if you use it (especially for women), since those hair dryers that are available in hotels are of such power that you can just as well dry your hair by blowing on each other.

4) basic medicines, a band-aid, brilliant green in a pencil - as experience shows, they are never superfluous.

Where is the best place to stay?

When we chose a hotel, we did not particularly bother about its star rating, our preferences were: good territory, pools and distance to the beach. And we found a very cool place - Thalassa Sousse 4 *. This is just a huge hotel, similar to a small village, with an immense, green area, 5 swimming pools, bars, a tennis court and a golf course. Aerobics and water aerobics are held daily, there is table tennis, daytime and evening animation programs. The hotel offers rooms in a large building or stand-alone bungalows. Thalassa Sousse goes straight to its own fully landscaped beach.

What to do at the resort?

You can take a cheap taxi to Port El Kantaoui (only 7 km). In the evening, it is especially beautiful there: a lot of smart people walk, snow-white yachts sway nearby, there is a singing fountain with a light show, an amusement park, many cute cafes and hospitable souvenir shops.

Quite clean and tidy sand beach without cigarette butts and algae. The entrance to the sea is flat, gentle. In September, there were no big waves at sea, you can sit in the water for a long time, in our hotel sometimes even aqua aerobics was held in the sea, which was very surprising for me.

Pros of living in Sousse

Excellent climate, beaches, and a fairly calm sea. Many good hotels with large areas, private coastal areas, recreational activities. Great vacation for the whole family. It takes only half an hour to drive from the airport in Monastir to Sousse (excluding the transfer of tourists to other hotels). Close to Port El Kantaoui.

Cons of staying in Sousse

There are no obvious minuses, rather an unpleasant trifle: when you go to the center of Sousse along the road, between beautiful buildings hotels have wastelands - abandoned plots of land where nothing has been built. They are dirty, littered with garbage and it is not very pleasant to see this, it spoils the impression of quite a nice and friendly town of Sousse a little.