Small by size, big by history. The culture of Tunisia is diversified by a heritage of some 3,000 years of history and a geographical position in the middle of the Mediterranean basin, cradle of the most prestigious civilizations and the main monotheistic religions. Tunisia has indeed been a crossroads of civilizations and its culture reflects the traces of Punic, Arab, Turkish, African, European and Muslim cultures. 

 

Tunisia is renowned for its many handicrafts whose various regions of the country make their specificity. The Tunisian pottery is mainly from Guellala, a city located in the south of the island of Djerba, whose inhabitants are mostly Berbers and whose main profession is the work of clay. Other potters' centers on the Tunisian coast exist, notably in Tunis, Nabeul and Moknine.
The city of Kairouan is the national center of carpet production. Tunisia has a rich tradition of mosaics dating back to the ancient period. 

 

Tunisia is renowned for its many handicrafts whose various regions of the country make their specificity. The Tunisian pottery is mainly from Guellala, a city located in the south of the island of Djerba, whose inhabitants are mostly Berbers and whose main profession is the work of clay. Other potters' centers on the Tunisian coast exist, notably in Tunis, Nabeul and Moknine. The city of Kairouan is the national center of carpet production. Tunisia has a rich tradition of mosaics dating back to the ancient period.

 

Tunisia has known different historical periods. Populated since prehistoric times, it was the cradle of the brilliant Carthaginian civilization. True crossroads of diversified civilizations, the country was successively Punic, Roman, Vandal, Byzantine, Arab-Muslim, Ottoman, Husseinite and under French protectorate before
independence in 1956. Invested by the Phoenicians, wise traders and skilful merchants, they erected in Carthage, in 814 BC, the powerful Punic empire whose prosperity was based on trade.

 

During the Roman period, its intense export activity made it the granary of Rome. From the Punic period to the six centuries of Roman presence, this land gave birth to illustrious thinkers and historical figures: the Carthaginian Hannibal, one of the greatest military strategists of all time; Magon, the greatest agronomist of antiquity; Tertullian, the herald of religious tolerance... The Arab-Muslim civilization starts from the 7th century, a golden age which brings a unity of the language and contributes to the development of agriculture, crafts, trade and shipbuilding. Kairouan was born in 670 and became the second metropolis of the empire, thanks to the spiritual influence of its great minds: Ibn Khaldun, the founder of human sciences; Ibn Al Jazzar, an illustrious physician, Ibn Rachiq, a poet and many others.