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Inside the cultural bloom transforming Tunisia’s capital

Blue Medina street scene at sunset in Chefchaouen, Morocco.

Tunis is a Mediterranean gem currently undergoing a vibrant, real-time transformation. In this North African capital, 2,000-year-old Roman ruins coexist with a raw creative scene where cobalt-doored concept stores and artist collectives breathe new life into historic districts. Concept stores occupy clifftop suburbs, Tunisian-Japanese cafes serve miso-braised vegetables alongside house-fermented harissa, and gallery openings spill into ancient Carthaginian ruins under golden evening light. Despite the backdrop of political uncertainty, an improbable cultural bloom—fueled by a favorable exchange rate and a wave of young visionaries—makes Tunis feel like an affordable, avant-garde playground. From punk-inspired thrift fashion to rooftop disco beats, this ancient city is boldly blurring the lines between its storied past and a neon-lit future.

The New York Times

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