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Welcome to one of the best places in Tunisia. A city located in the Region Of Cap Bon, Nabeul. This Small city has fascinated a lot of well-known faces. When you arrive at this piece of Heaven you will notice how calm it is. Here in Hammamet, We dream in colours borrowed from the sea. Wake up every morning wishing the day will be great. Hammamet is where the dreamer is born. Where I was and where I grew up. Historically, Hammamet is known for its fortress and old Medina: it was built in the ninth century in the Aglabides period. It was built in a parallelogram shape.
Why was it called Hammamet?
There are two different stories. The first hypothesis is the pigeon. A pigeon in Arabic is Hamema and for plural nouns is Hamam from which came Hammamet. The other story, it’s believed that the name came from the Romain baths dating to 185 and 192 AD and still existing and facing the years.
Those baths are located in the archaeological site of Puppet: This heavily populated territory was presumably inhabited by the Berbers and Carthaginians from the 5th century BC. AD (sanctuary and inscription at Thinissut, for example), but no Punic relics appear to have been documented on the sites of Pupput proper.
How to get to the Pupput Site?
If you prefer to ride the bus, it is on Route 115 from Old Hammamet to New Hammamet. Arrive at the Samira Club Hotel. Taxis from hotels in New or Old Hammamet should cost no more than 5 -10 Dinars (£1.50-2.50). Many of the new Hammamet resorts are within walking distance.
Dar Sebastien – International Cultural Center of Hammamet
Dar Sebastian, which today houses the International Cultural Center of Hammamet, has an unusual backstory. This architectural jewel was once the palace of Georges Sebastian and was built in 1927. However, its fate took an unforeseen turn when Rommel requisitioned it in 1943 and made it his headquarters. Sebastian, a rich Romanian who elected not to return to his freed homeland, sold the castle to the Tunisian government after the war. The government converted it into a cultural centre in 1962, and its open-air theatre hosts the annual international festival each summer. The home is known across the globe as one of the most magnificent villas and is regarded as a masterpiece of traditional Tunisian architecture.
Throughout its existence, it has welcomed prominent 20th-century innovators and thinkers such as Paul Klee, André Gide, Giacometti, Macke, and others. Churchill even wrote a portion of his memoirs there. Inside, guests may appreciate wonderful 1930s furnishings and a surprisingly beautiful bathroom. Don’t pass up the chance to have a drink by the white marble pool.
Botanical Gardens: A Peaceful Haven
The Cultural Center’s grounds and green areas are a wonderful refuge of peace and tranquillity, apart from the busy ambience of Hammamet. The views of the sea from Dar Sebastian are spectacular, so take a stroll and get lost among the cactus and towering palm palms. Sebastian established the garden in 1932, and it now has over thirty plant varieties, including a range of tropical plants that flourish in the Mediterranean environment. It’s a feast for the eyes and the senses, with a plethora of colours and smells. Within the gardens, a tiny and well-organized eco-museum was recently established, giving another layer of interest to this wonderful location.
The Theatre as a Cultural Center
The French architect Paul Chémetov built the theatre within the botanical gardens in 1964. It has served as the distinguished location for the Hammamet International Festival ever since. It has included renowned choreographers such as the late Maurice Béjart, as well as the Alvin Ailey and Alwin Nikolais dance groups, over the years.
Let’s Go back to the city centre
Here you can find all your needs, as they say, all roads lead to Rome in Hammamet all roads guide you to the Medina.
This old city will surprise you with its authenticity. It has 6 doors all around. Behind each door, there is a story. The Main one is Beb El Rahma (The Mercy Door ), when you enter it you find the great mosque of Hammamet. Here we call it the Great because it’s the main mosque and the first one in the city. It has a quadruple Minaret that can be seen from outside, indicating the greatness of the building. This mosque is a fusion of Moorish and Turkish traditions, in the ninth century After decades of development, it was finished in the 15th century and refurbished in the 1970s.
In the eastern part of Medina, you will discover different shops from where you can buy traditional things. They will welcome you and insist that you enter because they love presenting their goods to guests. At the end of the market, a huge fortress where we’ll meet you, enter it you will be amazed by its hugeness. This monument was the military base of the city. It is well-preserved and has a see sight view: I recommend that you go up and enjoy the beauty of the sunset from there.
Now it is summer, the season when different singers who came here fell in love with Hammamet, and they are not few: Winston Churchill, Marshal Rommel, George Bernanos, François Chatelet, Christian Berond, Serge Lifar, Ernesto Azzalin, Jean-Claude Pascal, Bettino Craxi …..
Hammamet with its wave music can make your heart dance and boost the body’s vitamin D supply.
The beach I walked on was an enchanting paradise. It was half-moon shaped and there were no heaving waves to be seen, merely wave grooves in the sand. I shaded my eyes from the glowing day star and looked out to sea again. Hammamet is where time stops, and you get to discover your inner soul
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