TUNISIA

In the capital of Tunis, beyond the medina and souks of the ancient quarter, travellers will stumble upon elegant, well-preserved buildings in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles more typically associated with European capitals. That’s because Tunisia is, of course, not one place but many. Curious visitors only need to scratch the surface to see the clear evidence of how Roman, Arabic, Turkish and French influences have all held sway over the centuries here at the northernmost point of Africa.

Beyond Tunis, this wonderfully varied country encompasses Saharan dunes, the scenic Roman ruins of Carthage, and Monastir’s Islamic fortress – and more ways to season couscous than you thought possible. Meanwhile, the country’s Berber villages hold their own history and traditions. All this, and the white-sand beaches of over 1,300km (810 miles) of Mediterranean coastline, where summer sunshine lingers from May and June all the way through to September.