Hammamet and Cape Bon

Hammamet and the coast to the south offer some of the best beaches in Tunisia, while the Cape Bon peninsula, a finger of land reaching up towards Sicily, is noted for its attractive countryside, the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site of Kerkouane, and as a centre of pottery production.

Hammamet is noted for its fine sandy beaches and beautiful historic medina. Despite being inundated with tourists, the small medina has retained its charm and offers visitors a combination of narrow lanes, pretty whitewashed houses, a fortified kasbah, small cafes, and waterfront restaurants. Hammamet’s popularity started in the early 20th century and soon attracted writers and artists such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Paul Klee and Andre Gide. Paul Klee wrote in his diary in 1914: ‘The city is magnificent, right by the sea, full of bends and sharp corners. Now and then, I get to look at the ramparts!’. The more exclusive hotels are located a few miles from the medina at Hammamet Yasmine.

Kerkouane is of supreme importance to archaeologists and has been given UNESCO World Heritage status because it is the most complete survival of a Punic (Carthaginian) settlement. The city was protected by a double wall, but it was abandoned for an unknown reason before the Roman conquest of Carthage, thus ensuring the survival of its remains. Kerkouane was once an important centre of Murex dye production, a malodorous industry which may explain the unusual feature of a hip bath in almost every house. Today’s visitors can see the foundation walls of the settlement’s homes, which have been restored to knee height and are attractively located next to the sea.