tabarka - hotels-in-tunisia.com

Tabarka
Close to the borders of Algeria and fronting on to the Mediterranean is one of Tunisia's newest discoveries, Tabarka. A combination of sea and mountain has given this region the name Green Tunisia. The recently developed resort of Tabarka is built around a stylish marina, Porto Corallo, and the superb Montazah beach of fine golden sand situated some 4 km from the old town. Many of the towns houses together with a 16th century Genoese fort overlook the city and the needles, sea eroded monolithic rocks.. Add to this a magnificent golf course, the best diving in Tunisia, a backdrop of mountains and forest and you have the perfect ingredients for a quite different holiday in this intriguing country. This is a region that needs exploring by car and we strongly recommend you hire one for the overall enjoyment of your holiday. During the summer and for one week only, Tabarka plays host to an international jazz festival with artists appearing from all over the world. In September another event, 'Coralis', is a festival of diving and underwater photography.	More photos
The views of the 16th century Genoese Castle at dusk. Tabarka market every Friday - a great place to test out your haggling skills. The surrounding cork oak forests ideal for walking and bird-watching. A boat trip to La Galite islands some 35 miles from the coast - the island shelters a well-preserved shipwreck (great for divers) and its nature reserve is home to a colony of monk seals. Bulla Regia, with underground villas and priceless Roman mosaics. Tabarka is a guide's dream, all around the city clear traces of the exiting past are found. Yellow marble and lions were shipped out from there to the rest of the Roman empire. Some centuries ago, Tabarka was one of several pirate haunts, later it became a Genoese colony, before the Bey of Tunis in 1741 annexed it. Income for the inhabitants have been both coral fishing, exports of cork (even still), and ordinary fishing. Today a Genoese fort is clearly visible from anywhere, Remains of Ottoman forts are found on the hills above the town. Tabarka is very much a tourist town, but it is so far from being destroyed by the influx of Europeans, that nobody should feel like staying away. The town itself is quite un-Arabic, with rectangular streets, and houses with pitched roofs covered by red tiles. The atmosphere is laid back, and even touts in the city or out on the way to the fort, are quite relaxed. A tourist centre is being established east of the town, but this will probably have little effect on the special feeling of Tabarka.