Hammamet, Tunisia

Hammamet (Arabic الحمامات, DMG al - Hammamat ) is a seaside resort in the north of Tunisia. It is located in the southeast of Cap Bon peninsula on the northern edge of the Gulf of Hammamet and Nabeul Governorate belongs to. Since the beginning of the 20th century Hammamet is a popular destination for tourists because of its miles of sandy beaches. Today the city is the most visited resort in the country.

The city has about 65,000 inhabitants (2004 ), but this number has quadrupled in the summer due to tourism. Hammamet is located about halfway between the Tunisian capital Tunis ( about 65 kilometers ) and Sousse ( about 85 kilometers ).

History

In the ancient world was in Hammamet a small Roman settlement called Pupput. The further history of Hammamet is unclear until a fortress was founded in the 13th century. The city itself was probably made in the 15th century. Hammamet, then called by the Europeans Mahomette, was a stronghold of the corsairs and was attacked several times by the Spaniards. Beginning of the 20th century discovered artists and intellectuals such as Paul Klee, August Macke, Gustave Flaubert, Guy de Maupassant, André Gide and Oscar Wilde when it was still insignificant fishing village. It became a destination for rich foreigners. In the 1960s began the tourism boom and Hammamet became the largest seaside resort in Tunisia.

Since 2004, an extensive necropolis of ancient Pupput was discovered during archaeological excavations.

Cityscape

At the heart of Hammamet forms the historical Medina (Old Town ) on the tip of a peninsula. The only 200 × 200 -meter Medina is fully walled. At its west corner of the Kasbah is located (fortress). The Great Mosque in the Medina dates from the 15th century, Sidi- Gailani mosque from the year 1798. Between the main gate and the Kasbah are the partly covered market streets of the souks, which are now completely dominated by the souvenir trade. Outside the Medina, facing the sea, is the Islamic cemetery. Compared to the historic city walls, a small Italian cemetery. Here is the grave of Bettino Craxi, Prime Minister of Italy from 1983 until 1987.

The center of the modern forms of Hammamet Located on the north side of the Medina Place des Martyrs with an Eiffel Tower -inspired monument to commemorate the "martyrs" of the Tunisian War of Independence. The place is the transportation hub of the city. Here begin the two main streets of the city, the north extending Avenue Habib Bourguiba and Avenue de la République to the east. In the vicinity of these two roads is the modern center of Hammamet with shops, restaurants and service industries.

The tourist zone of Hammamet is divided into two sections, the west and east of the city center for miles runs along its beach. East of the city center, the smaller " Zone Touristique Hammamet Nord" begins. The southern hotel zone extends over 20 km to the newly built tourist resort of Yasmine Hammamet. In the southern hotel zone, approximately 3 km from the center and the Cultural Center is located in the former mansion of the Romanian millionaire George Sebastian, in which hosts an international festival with theater, music and folklore performances in the summer.