Sousse

*In June 2015, a terrorist attack took place at Port El Kantaoui, near Sousse, in which a number of foreign tourists were killed. Security has been dramatically increased at resorts in this region and tourists are advised to pay close attention to travel warnings and recommendations from official government sources before travel to Tunisia.*The captivating holiday resort town of Sousse lies on Tunisia's east coast, about two hours drive south of the capital, Tunis. From the 9th century onwards, the Phoenicians, Byzantines, Arabs, and Romans all discovered the delights of this fertile spot. Dubbed 'the pearl of the Sahel' in ancient times, today its mild climate and beautiful Mediterranean shoreline work their magic on holidaymakers from all over Europe.Sousse is also favoured by Tunisians as a getaway destination, and locals enjoy mingling with visitors on the sandy beaches and busy promenade. Thankfully, the proliferation of modern resort hotels along the beachfront has not detracted from the charms of the inner city.Sousse is still regarded as having probably the finest old city in Tunisia, even if is fairly small. A warren of narrow covered alleyways nestling below the ribat(fort) hides hundreds of colourful shops selling a myriad of local goods from carpets and porcelain to leather bags and olive oil. Outside the medina, there is also a vast modern shopping complex.However, Sousse is not all just shopping and beach bathing. The town's museum, situated in the old kasbah(castle), is renowned for its collection of mosaics, masks, statues, and other relics of the Roman occupation. There are also several miles of well-preserved ancient Christian catacombs and marble tombs in the town.Sousse offers its many package-tour visitors all the facilities and surroundings of a relaxing seaside holiday, overlaid with the undeniably foreign and exotic atmosphere of North Africa, all at extremely affordable prices.