The Original Face of Paradise? Roaming Tunisia’s “Past and Present”

The blue-and-white architecture of Sidi Bou Said makes you feel as if you’ve stepped into Greece. (Photo provided by Shutterstock)

In early September, ancient Roman ruins were discovered off the northeastern coast of Tunisia, once again putting this North African country, known as the “original face of paradise,” in the international spotlight. Passionate about North Africa, Tunisia boasts a history spanning thousands of years, blending Mediterranean antiquity, Islamic culture, and ancient Roman influences, presenting a beautiful yet melancholic “past and present.” It attracts travelers from around the world to explore its distinctly charming European backyard.

Bordering the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Tunisia’s blue-tiled, white-walled architectural style bears a striking resemblance to the charm of Greece. As some describe it, if Greece is paradise, then Tunisia is like a hidden paradise within that paradise. The medina of Tunis, listed as a UNESCO-protected historic area, was one of the most prosperous cities in the Islamic world between the 13th and 15th centuries, where you can discover the everyday life and culture of its people.

The ruins of Carthage still showcase temples, baths, and amphitheaters left behind by the Romans. (Photo provided by Shutterstock)

Chott el Djerid, the largest desert salt lake in Tunisia, spans over 5,000 square kilometers. The sunlight reflecting off its surface creates an expansive, boundless sense of vast emptiness. (Photo provided by Shutterstock)

Sidi Bou Said, a dreamy town boasting some of the most iconic Mediterranean scenery, has been ranked as the top town among the world’s top 10 travel destinations. Its streets and alleys are lined with uniformly white-walled, blue-roofed houses, making it the perfect spot to sit in a cliffside café with breathtaking sea views, sip on aromatic Arabic herbal tea, and enjoy the serene beauty of a gorgeous sunset.

In addition to Bolivia’s Uyuni Salt Flats, China’s Qinghai’s Chaka Salt Lake and Qarhan Salt Lake, Inner Mongolia’s Ejina Salt Lake, and the Western Hemisphere’s largest saltwater lake—the Great Salt Lake in Utah—Tunisia’s largest desert salt lake, Chott el Djerid, covers over 5,000 square kilometers. The major transportation routes that cut through it offer travelers another perspective to admire its beauty. The sunlight reflecting off the snow-white crystalline salt creates a sense of infinite, boundless expanse.