La Marsa

22km/14mi northeast of Tunis and 6km/4mi north of La Goulette are the select residential towns and seaside resorts of La Marsa and Gammarth, much frequented by the people of Tunis.

Access

TGM Tunis-La Goulette-La Marsa, or by car on GP 9 (the road to the airport). The name of La Marsa comes from its medieval designation of Marsa Roum ("Port of the Christians") - referring to the many Copts who came here from Egypt. In the 10th century Sidi Mahrez, Tunis's patron saint, lived and died here. During the 19th century the Beys and their senior officials built summer palaces here, and thereafter the upper classes of the population began to patronize the resort. The President of Tunisia also has a residence here. The main feature of interest in La Marsa is the market square, with its buildings of the Hafsid period. At the right-hand end of the square is the entrance to the Cafe Saf-Saf, built round a Hafsid fountain.