Sousse

Sousse is a city on the eastern coast of Tunisia, along the Gulf of Hammamet. It is the capital of Sousse Governorate and one of the country’s major urban centers. The city has a population around 270,000 and is a popular tourist destination, known for its Mediterranean beaches, historic medina and archaeological sites.

The earliest known settlement on the site was Hadrumetum, a Phoenician then Punic and later Roman town. The Medina of Sousse is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, notable for its compact street plan, zawiyas, and monuments such as the Great Mosque of Sousse (8th–9th century) and the Ribat of Sousse, a coastal fortress that housed monks and defended the city.

The Sousse Archaeological Museum houses one of the most important collections of Roman mosaics in North Africa, including the famous Orpheus mosaic. The modern town includes Port El Kantaoui, a marina and resort area north of the city, and a long sandy beach that forms part of the Sousse coastal resort belt.

Economy and transport: Tourism is the dominant economic activity, supported by fishing and agriculture in the surrounding region. Sousse is connected by road and railway along the eastern coast, and is served by nearby international airports, notably Monastir–Habib Bourguiba International Airport and Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport.

Climate: Sousse has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters.