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VILLA IN TUNISIA KELIBIA BEACH Vacation Rental ID#118562
VILLA IN TUNISIA A luxury villa rental in north east Tunisia. Our Tunisian holiday villa is richly furnished and offers satellite TV, air conditioning, a garage with private parking, 1 full bathroom, 3 bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen, a lush garden, internet access and a telephone. Nearby is a restaurant with typical Tunisian food, a café, a super market and a children’s park. The villa has a lovely living room with confortable sofas Contact Mr. Borhen Ben Brahim by telephone 0021698226916 from Europe and 01121698226916 from Canada and the USA or by email VILLA IN TUNISIA KELIBIA BEACH Vacation Rental Description (Cont.)
... borhensa@yahoo.fr

Tunisia

Tunisia has 3000 years of history.

Tunisia is a country of many contrasts where visitors are offered fine beaches, wooded mountains, busy cities and the grandiose expanse of the desert. Tunisia has always been welcoming to man whose traces can be found everywhere in various forms. The Tunisian Sahara covers more than half the country and is a fascinating ecological environment. In the northern desert there are many long standing human settlements, traditional urban complexes, mountain villages and oasis. Further south the desert becomes more pronounced only protected by wild flora and fauna and occasional traces of human presence survive here. Rare fortifications and wells for the survival of the nomads and caravans can also be found. Spectacular but vulnerable settlements established far back in the country’s history constitute opportunities to discover the desert’s age. Old oasis owes their existence to the very many water springs where very original farming is practiced. Date trees, fruit trees and vegetables are watered through an ingenious ancient system. Integrated into the Saharan landscape, adapted to the climate and built with locally provided materials are traditional isolated settlements which have both an exceptional historical and socio cultural value. Originally defensive, the spectacular architecture of the mountain ksars form citadels and places of refuge perched high on rocky mountains served to guard communities and as grain storehouses and date back far in history to the 10th century. Other types of traditional dwellings are grouped together and have adapted to the natural geological and climatic conditions. These are perfect symbols of nature and celestial traditions. These kinds of buildings are threatened by erosion and the fragility of the materials used. Real citadels of refuge are perched on the funny rocks used by the Berbers as storage moreover there is another traditional architectural type of dwellings just dug into the ground such as in Matmata where the houses are dug straight into the ground in a fabulous moon landscape. Tunisia has been a meeting land for various peoples and civilizations that came as visitors, settlers or conquerors. Tunisian culture and landscapes testify to the effects of this historical process. National archeological heritages include vestiges of Berber, Roman, Arab, Spanish, Turkish and others.

We can also speak about the history of the Caspian civilization.

814 BC is the foundation of Carthage.

2nd century BC is the establishment of the first Roman colony.

The Vandals.

The Christians.

The Byzantines.

The 7th century adds the foundation of Kairouan by Okba Ibn Nafa exactly at 670 AD and the capture of Carthage by Hassan Ibn Nomn.

8th century adds the expansion of Islam, the establishment of the aghlabite dynasty and the construction of the Ezzitouna Mosque in Tunis.

10th century adds the Zirid dynasty.

1048 was the invasion of Tunisia by Beni Hilal tribes.

13 - 16th centuries Hafcid dynasty 1236-1574.

1574 Tunisia became a part of the Ottoman Empire.

1705 - 1956 Husseinite dynasty remains in power until July 25, 1957.

1881 French protectorate.

1938 resistance movement records important mobilizations of masses against French colonizers, massive demonstrations in Tunis where many demonstrators are killed and activists arrested or deported.

1954 Tunisian - French negotiations in Paris.

1956 Tunisia becomes an independent country.

1956 the code of personal status promulgated giving full rights to women and abolishing polygamy.

1957 proclamation of the Republic.

Resistance leader Habib Bourghiba became the first President of the Republic of Tunisia.

1987 President Zine Elabidine Ben Ali became the second President of Tunisia.

By visiting the vestiges of the roman houses you can get a good idea of what roman African life was like. The villas in Bulla Reggia which had floors underground, kept their inhabitants cool in the midst of the hot summer rays of light flooding the building. One can just imagine the comfort and simplicity as well as the serenity the master of the villa must have enjoyed.

The layout of the houses is generally similar to that of the ground floor plan of African homes of the period, where the rooms surrounded a portico. The most spacious was the triclinum a kind of living room - dining room for receiving guests where mosaics decorate the benches and in the living room a kind of platform replaces the bed. Archeologists have named the vilmlas after the theme of their mosaics such as “The House of Fishing and Anphitrite”.

The nicest, most precious and greatest collection of roman mosaics in the world is displayed at the Bardo museum.

Roman Africa gradually broke away from Rome in terms of art. The period from the second century onwards saw constant innovation in terms of sculpture, architecture and especially in mosaics. Roman Africa became a privileged exporter to the rest of the empire and acquired a special status as a colonized country in the modern sense of the word.

The province became not only a supplier of raw materials but also a producer and creator of art and luxury goods gradually establishing its own identity and schools.

The African mosaics were characterized by the originality of their designs, which often portrayed themes relating to the persons that commissioned them, such as their properties or the origin of their wealth. Others featured motifs such as the mythological, religious scenes, the cycle of the seasons, rural or hunting scenes and the amphitheatre. They would perhaps narrate a story such as a person who had made his way up in society as a trader in which the scene would depict boats fishing, ocean gods or a playwright flanked by an actor or a feature mask in the triclinum feasts. Food and dishes provided the principal themes for the mosaics to display their artistic talent.

The mosaics in roman Africa were also distinguished by their extensive use of color unlike those produced in Italy which were very monochrome. They were black and white and were produced by groups of craftsmen.

The recent restored house of Africa in El Jem represents one of the most spectacular discoveries of roman domestic architecture both for its mosaics and its architectural elements.

The school of Carthage produced the masterpieces that decorate the villas in Bulla Reggia. “The House of Fishing and Anphitrite” are still in place as a witness of the opulent life of the local bourgeoisie.

Tunisia - 1001 sites

This fascinating north African country is an enchanting holiday experience full of contrasts boasting various scenes with more than 1300 km of beaches, vast mountain ranges, desert, sand dunes, salt lakes and Berber villages. With its mild weather Tunisia is an ideal year round resort.

Tunisia offers diverse opportunities to explore the attractive and fascinating archeological and historical sites dealing with 3000 years of glorious history.

Islam is the religion of the overwhelming majority of Tunisians; however, peace co-exists with other religions. Tunisia is a country of peace and tolerance.

From the top of the minaret the Muezzin announces the five calls to prayer that mark the daily life of Muslims. On the ninth of the Islamic calendar, all Muslims celebrate Ramadan which commemorates the time the Koran was revealed to the prophet Mohammed. During the month of Ramadan all Muslims refrain from smoking, drinking and eating from sunrise to sunset.

After the fast is broken everybody enjoys a night of celebration, entertainment and devotion.

Tunisia consequently is one of the major famous holiday destinations since there is something for everyone, whether it is diving, windsurfing, golfing or just enjoying the fabulous sandy beaches on the glorious Mediterranean coast.

Tunisia has a rich historical and archeological patrimony.

ONE DAY TRIP

TUNIS - CARTHAGE - SIDI BOU SAID - BARDO Visit the Medina of Tunis, a world of living stone. Enter through one of the splendidly decorated studded leaf doors into a dwelling where you can experience the essence of another period in time. The centerpiece of the Medina is the grand mosque, Djama ez Zitouna (Mosque of the Olive Tree).

Visit the ruins of Carthage, built in 732, which were superimposed beneath the layers of time where various manifestations of Carthage can be found. Each individual city was located fronting the shoreline and then expanded towards the hills. The site itself echoes its glorious 3000 year history. Mount Byrsa was the Acropolis of Punic and Roman Carthage. A large Cathedral and seminary for Carmelite Priests was built under the hill during the time of the French Protectorate. The Museum found here today brings together and preserves exhibits collected from the site. The Amphitheater, one of the largest in the Empire was an essential place of entertainment in a Roman city where people from all walks of life mixed together. The Roman Theater at Carthage provides an attractive setting for an international festival that is held in July and August. The remains of the Antonine Thermal Baths found at the water’s edge were amongst the largest in the Roman Empire.

Next, visit the Bardo Museum, the national museum of Tunisia, which is housed in a former 19th century Beylical Palace. This fairytale palace contains many of Tunisia’s greatest treasures. The museum is endowed with a unique and splendid collection of mosaics, statues and jewelry from every period of the country’s incredible rich history.

Visit the lovely blue and white village of Sidi Bou Said, where the white houses are gaily perched on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Tunis. There is a legend that tells of Saint Louis coming to wage war but fell in love with a Berber princess and changed his name to become the patron saint of this village. Here you will find white washed houses with carved stone doorways and delicate window grills accentuated by bursts of magenta bougainvilleas creating a breathtaking picture. The village itself takes its name from Abu Said Kalafa ben Yahia el Temimi el Beji, a 13th century Sufi who decided to settle here after his pilgrimage to Mecca. Sidi Bou Said embraces a multitude of sites of historical interest. Your visit of the village will feature some of the points of interest including the 19th century black and white lighthouse and the former palatial villa built by Baron d’Erlanger.

ONE DAY TRIP

KAIROUAN – SOUSSE – MONASTIR This religious centre, the holy city of Kairouan, nicknamed the “town with three hundred mosques” is the spiritual home of all Tunisians where the minaret of the Great Mosque looms over the skyline of the city. Kairouan, the former capital of the Aghlabid emirs, is a place of tremendous historical significance. The spell binding old town fascinates its visitors. The Great Mosque, the symbol of Kairouan, dates from the 9th century and has been in use by Islamic worshippers longer than any other mosque in North Africa. It is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture with exquisite wood carved doors and stucco arabesques, bearing witness to its past glory. The mosque itself is a virtual fortress.

Next is the Barbier Mausoleum, also known as the Mosque of Sidi Sahab. The mosque and its surrounding complex are still a much venerated pilgrimage site. Most of the existing buildings date from the 17th and 19th centuries. Abu Zama El Belaoui, who was buried here, was one of the companions of the Prophet. He always kept three hairs of the Prophet’s beard with him and hence the tendency to call him the Prophet’s barber.

Visit the Aghlibythes Pools which dip down into the porous rocks far below the city. The cisterns are filled by rain that has been collected from courtyards and rooftops. In the 9th century, the city’s water problem was solved by building a 35 km long aqueduct from the foothills of the Tell Mountains. Many of the pools have since been restored and have been equipped with fountains and lights.

Next is the Medina with its imposing walls and monumental gates. Here you will find hundreds of shops where the world famous Kairouan carpets, made of pure wool, are woven and sold. Since Kairouan is the oldest and most renowned carpet center located in Tunisia, we will stop to admire Tunisian craftsmen as they blend traditional Tunisian patterns.

Visit the medina of Sousse, the third largest city in Tunisia. The distinctive Ribat begun in 821 is the best preserved example of a type of building peculiar to this era in North African history. Being Sousse’s oldest Islamic monument, it was part of a chain of fortresses found along the North African Coast. For a Muslim to serve in a Ribat for a certain number of days was said to guarantee a place in paradise.

Monastir is the birth place of the famous first president Bourghiba. Monastir, once just a fishing port on the Sahel coast and formerly known as Ruspina, served as Julius Caesar’s operation base for his African campaign. A visit will be made to the Castle. The historical monuments of the city are found within the crenellated walls of the Medina and testify to the city’s long lasting importance.

ONE DAY TRIP

THE CAP BON

Visit Nabeul, the ancient neapolis. Visit Dar Chabane for the stone carvings and the handicrafts.

Visit the fishing harbor of Kelibia.

Visit Kerkouane, the most famous Punic site of Tunisia.

Visit the Punic and Roman stone quarries of Elhaouaria.

Visit the orchards of fruit trees.

TWO DAY TRIP

A three day safari to Sbeitla, southwest of Kairouan, to discover the splendor of the ruins of the old roman town of Sufetula. It has been suggested that the Romans built the town which grew more important after El Jem and Sousse rebelled. Our visit to the impressive ruins features such highlights as the great baths, the theater perched above the dry river bed, the 2nd century forum and the amphitheater.

TWO DAY TRIP TO THE SAHARA

Visit the roman coliseum of El Jem, the third largest in the world.

Visit Matmata the most fabulous of the Berber villages.

Visit Douz, the desert’s gate, where one can organize a camel ride on the dunes of the Sahara.

Cross the Chott Eljerid, the largest salt lake of the country.

Visit the mountainous oasis of the Saharan atlas Chebika and Tamerza.

Visit Kairouan for religion and for handicrafts

KAIROUAN - SOUSSE - MONASTIR Visit Kairouan’s great mosque Sidi Okba, the Barber shrine of Abu Zama El Balaoui, the aghlabite pools and the medina.

Visit Monastir, once just a fishing port on the Sahel coast and formerly known as Ruspina, served as Julius Caesar’s operation base for his African campaign. A visit will be made to the Castle. The historical monuments of the city are found within the crenellated walls of the Medina and testify to the city’s long lasting importance.

Visit the medina of Sousse, the third largest city in Tunisia. The distinctive Ribat begun in 821 is the best preserved example of a type of building peculiar to this era in North African history. Being Sousse’s oldest Islamic monument, it was part of a chain of fortresses found along the North African Coast. For a Muslim to serve in a Ribat for a certain number of days was said to guarantee a place in paradise.

THE CAP BON

Visit Nabeul, the ancient neapolis. Visit Dar Chabane for the stone carvings and the handicrafts.

Visit the fishing harbor of Kelibia.

Visit Kerkouane, the most famous Punic site of Tunisia.

Visit the Punic and Roman stone quarries of Elhaouaria.

Visit the orchards of fruit trees.

DOUGGA & THUBORBO MAJUS Thuburbo Majus, is one of the major archaeological sites in the Tunis area, probably Berber in origin, where we will view the impressive ruins where magnificent temples and baths were built for the every day citizens of this market town. There are still many treasures yet to be revealed.

The ruins that have been discovered so far are very impressive. Of special note are those of the capital with its fluted columns and great stairway. The Forum, an irregular shaped square, is larger than those found at Dougga and Bulla Reggia. Built between 161 and 192 AD, a few of its columns are still upright. The Forum itself is flanked by several temples which include the Temple of Peace and the Temple of Mercury both of which date from the 2nd century AD. All that remains of the summer baths is a line of gray marble columns and monumental walls.

Leaving Thurburbo Majus we now make our way to Dougga, the largest and most spectacular of Tunisia’s Roman sites and containing what most people consider to be the most beautiful single Roman monument in North Africa. It is one of the most striking ruined cities in the area of the Mediterranean and is one of the oldest towns in the Tunisian interior. Time for an optional lunch before we proceed to visit its ruins which include the most complete Roman theater in Tunisia built in the Greek style and carved into the natural grading of the hill. Seating 3500, the wide seats at the bottom were reserved for dignitaries. Your visit will feature other sights including the Temple of Augustan Piety, the Plaza of the Winds, the Shrine of Mercury and the Capitol, the star attraction of the site with its carved Corinthian portico BULLA REGGIA. Visit the ruins at Bulla Reggia, one of the most extraordinary Roman sites lying at the foot of Jebel Rabia. The underground villas built by its wealthy inhabitants are unique in the Roman Empire. No one knows the real reason why Bulla Regians went underground; perhaps it was to escape the heat. Here amongst the ruins you will find such interesting remains including the Baths of Julia Memmia, the Theater, the most impressive public building built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, the Forum and of course, the villas clustered together. Just a few have been excavated and there are more waiting to be discovered.

KAIROUAN – SOUSSE - MONASTIR Monastir, once just a fishing port on the Sahel coast and formerly known as Ruspina, served as Julius Caesar’s operation base for his African campaign. A visit will be made to the Castle. The historical monuments of the city are found within the crenellated walls of the Medina and testify to the city’s long lasting importance. The distinctive Ribat begun in 821 is the best preserved example of a type of building peculiar to this era in North African history. Being Sousse’s oldest Islamic monument, it was part of a chain of fortresses found along the North African Coast. For a Muslim to serve in a ribat for a certain number of days was said to guarantee a place in paradise.

HALF DAY TRIPS

Drive to El Jem with its extraordinary amphitheater, the single most impressive Roman monument found in Africa. Built during the reign of Gordian around 230-238 in the form of an ellipse, this amazing structure could once seat between 30,000-45,000 spectators. It was the third largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire after the Coliseums in Rome and Capua.

A morning tour will take us to see some of Djerba’s highlights. The architecture of Djerba is very distinctive. The island itself is dotted with whitewashed square houses known as menzels, which look more or less like small fortresses.

We begin at the Houmt Souk, which literally means “marketplace”. Beside the square is the souk with a maze of stalls, in covered alley ways known as qaysariya, where the most expensive goods were once sold. Next to the souk is the Zaouia of Sidi Brahim, once used for worship and said to contain the tomb of the saint and his followers. Not far away is the Stranger’s Mosque covered with domes and topped by a carved minaret. The most interesting of the mosques is the smaller Mosque of the Turks. Pass the Borj el Kebir, a fortress originally built in the mid 15th century and continue to the village of Guellala with its smoking kilns where hand made pottery is produced. The clay is dug out of the hillside then bleached and cleansed in the sea.

Time for an optional lunch before visiting the Synagogue El Ghriaba, claiming to be one of the earliest synagogues in the world and is one of the most holy Jewish buildings in North Africa, the site of a pilgrimage. The present day synagogue was built in the 1920’s. There is a myth that the last Jew on Djerba is charged with locking the synagogue and throwing the key back up to heaven. Djerba’s Jewish community has dwindled substantially over the years.

TWO DAY TRIP

Visiting the oasis of Tozeur, the main attraction of Tozeur, is the largest and most important in the area where over 200,000 palms are watered by natural springs.

Visit the Dar Chariet Museum, one of the most outstanding exhibits of its kind in the south. This is the first private museum opened in Tunisia. Located behind the light colored brick walls is a replica of a small middle class house that would be found in the north. Each room within the house evokes the luxurious style in which the Beys once lived. There is a series of interconnecting rooms that make up a Turkish bath or hammam, of the type that would be found in a private house. On display is a wonderful collection of traditional Tunisian costumes including an ornate gilded marriage dress. The small oasis of Chebika is an old village built on a narrow promontory bordered by palms lying at the foot of the last range of hills beyond The Chott el Bahiri. This was site of the Roman outpost of Ad Speculum on the Gabes to Tebessa road where signals were sent by mirror (speculum) announcing the caravans en route to Tozeur. The site’s recent claim to fame was that it was the setting of the movie “The English Patient”. Tamerza, the site of a Roman outpost called Ad Turres is one of the most unspoiled of all the Djerid oases. The ruined buildings of this ghost village are spread out on the far side of the El Horchane wadi. The oldest stone houses were abandoned after the floods of 1969 and a new village a kilometer away was built in the traditional Arab style. Not far away is the waterfall where water pours into a broad canyon carved into the cliffs. Time for an optional lunch before we return to Tozeur stopping en route in Nefta, once known as Roman Nepte and according to legends was settled by Kostel, the son of Shem, the son of Noah. It is now one of the most important religious centers in Tunisia linked with Sufism and is the country’s second holy city after Kairouan. To the north of Nefta is the famous site known as the Corbeille, where thousands of palm trees shimmer at the bottom of a massive natural sand bowl. The ridge above the Corbeille is cluttered with whitewashed domes across the salt Chott el Jerid which runs between Tozeur and Kebili. Dominated by distant mountains this vast flat surface seems to be a mirage. In fact, the bottom of this depression is a sebkha (a salty and frequently dry marsh). The meaning of the word “chott” refers to the fringes with a cover of a salt tolerant plant and was once called the Lake of Marks. A short stop for photos then we continue in the direction of Douz, the “Gateway to the Sahara”.

THREE DAY SAFARI

TUNIS – CARTHAGE - SIDI BOU SAID - BARDO

Visit the Punic ports, the Tophet, the holy worship for the Carthaginians. Visit the roman houses and the archeological park of Carthage.

Visit the picturesque and Andalusian resort of Sidi Bou Said.

After lunch visit the Bardo museum hosting the greatest and the most fabulous collection of roman mosaics in the world.

Visit Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, with its modern and ancient pars, the medina with its colorful bazaars and Arabic Islamic monuments.

2 DAY TRIP TO THE SAHARA

Visit the third largest Roman Coliseum in the world in El Jem.

Visit Matmata the most fabulous of the Berber villages.

Visit Douz, the desert’s gate, where one can organize a camel ride on the dunes of the Sahara.

Cross the Chott Eljerid salt lake, the biggest one of the country.

Visit the mountainous oasis of the Saharan atlas, Chebika and Tamerza.

Visit Kairouan for religion and handicrafts.

Kairouan, Sousse and Monastir Visit the great mosque Sidi Okba, the barber shrine of Abu Zama Elbalaoui, the aghlabite pools and the medina. Visit Monastir’s ribat, the Arabic Islamic fortress and the shrine of deceased President Bourghiba. Visit the medina of Sousse the third largest city in Tunisia.

Dougga, Thuborbo Majus, Zaghouan Visit the roman monuments in Thuborbo Majus the capitol, the mercury temple, the roman forum, the palestra of the petonus, the temple of the baalet, the summer and winter public baths and the roman houses. Visit Dougga, the capitol built for Jupiter Juno and Minerva, the forum, the gate of Alexandrus Severus, the temple of Caelistis, the lybico Punic shrine, the roman baths, the trypholum house and the roman theatre.

The Cap Bon

Visit Nabeul, the ancient neapolis.

Visit the handicrafts and the stone carvings in Dar Chabane.

Visit the fishing village of Kelibia.

Visit the most famous Punic site of Tunisia, Kerkouane.

Visit the orchards and the vineyards which produce rich varieties of Tunisian wine.

Kelibia has the finest, very quiet, most peaceful, sandy beaches of Tunisia.

Americans and English speaking Canadians visited Tunisia and here is one writing his impression:

Dear Borhen

I am pleased to write my response to the eight day tour of Tunisia. I told you that we had got so much out of the experience at a number of levels.

First, because we were on vacation, it had to be enjoyable, different and relaxing. Even though you took us to 34 places of interest, many very significant and some merely your little surprises, we did not feel pressured and the tour would have been poorer had we missed out on any of them. Each added to the enjoyment and there was a variety of experiences giving us insight into the ancient and recent history, the culture, the daily life and the varied geography of your country.

The western media offers us a biased view of Islam, with its emphasis on the divisions between the Sunni and Shiite factions and its sensationalizing the actions of the extremists and fanatics. It focuses on the countries which resist efforts to bring our version of stability and our values and our economic needs to what we are told are unstable societies. Touring Tunisia, with the benefit of your explanations, we have seen a tolerant, stable country with a defined set of values that should be the envy of many Western nations. We have seen the positive side of Islam and the way it can share, with a government, the means to order a society so that it progresses while having regard for its history and traditions.

We knew very little of Tunisia's geography, history, culture and way of life when we arrived in Tunis. This tour has given us an appreciation of the variations in geography and the effects of mini climate and terrain. We water-rich Canadians have learned that water is a critical and scarce commodity for so many. We are now aware of Tunisia's rich history, back to 400 B.C. We have learned something of the Arabic and Muslim cultures, dating back 1300 years, and how it manifests itself in art, architecture and literature. We know of the colonial influence and heritage from France and the struggle to gain independence and its consequences on your comparatively liberal society.

We see a Muslim society giving equality and opportunity to women, and a government educating and holding out opportunities for its young population. We have had efforts at environmental responsibility and education pointed out to us. We learned of moves to broaden the economy from its traditional agrarian base and, everywhere building to encourage tourism as a source of foreign currency and wealth.

Had we come as casual visitors, intent on enjoying the sun, sea and hotel hospitality, with a few excursions thrown in, we would not have learned half of this. It was not just the places to which you took us; it was how you explained their significance in terms of history, culture and way of life. It was you willingness to answer questions, not just about what we were seeing or had seen, but also about Tunisian life and the way society differed from what we live.

Above all we have seen the beauty of your country, whether it be in the Roman remains, the mosaics, the mosques and minarets; or in the topography of salt flats, mountains, coasts, deserts, olive groves and oases. We have seen its historical artifacts and the remnants of the traditional way of life in which your country is rooted as it successfully keeps up with modernity and progress.

In addition to the stops at places of interest, you also made sure that our lunch stops were satisfying and helped us settle in the quality hotels along the way. You encouraged us to try foods that we had never experienced and which we enjoyed. You turned us on to the joys of mint tea and once again, got us all on camels, while managing to avoid the ride yourself.

 

Borhen Ben Brahim [ tws ] 29-Nov-2008