Sousse, Mediterranean coastal city in Sousse Governorate, Tunisia
Sousse is a coastal town on the Gulf of Hammamet that sits between sandy beaches and agricultural hinterland. The town divides into several areas with the old fortified core at the center, an extended harbor quarter, and newer residential neighborhoods stretching southward along the coast.
Phoenician seafarers founded a trading post here in the 11th century BC that later rose to provincial capital under Roman rule. Arabs conquered the town in the 7th century AD and built fortifications that still shape the townscape today.
The townscape reflects Arab architecture with white flat-roofed houses typical of the North African coast. Residents still use the narrow alleys of the old quarter for trade and craft following traditional patterns, while modern shops have developed in newer districts.
The international airport lies about 12 miles (20 kilometers) south and connects to downtown through regular bus lines. Travelers find cash machines and exchange offices in the harbor area and along main streets where most hotels and restaurants are located.
Beneath the stone paving of the old quarter lie Roman catacombs with thousands of burial sites that rank among the largest early Christian burial grounds in the Mediterranean. Visitors can walk through underground passages and spot carved symbols on the walls that hint at the religious practice of early communities.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
