24 April 2, 2017 Travel www.thearabweekly.com Agenda Dubai: Through April 8th Global Village is a large cultural event in Dubai that offers an array of festivals, shopping and entertainment in an open-air theme park. This entertain- ment and shopping destination includes more than 75 partici- pating countries, dozens of fun rides and 26 restaurants offering food from around the world. Tunis: Through April 9th The 12th Jazz à Carthage, an annual music festival, brings together renowned international and local musicians for concerts, lectures, exhibitions and nightly jam sessions. A panoramic view of Tozeur. (Official website of the governorate of Tozeur) Doha: Through May 21st Picasso-Giacometti is an exhibi- tion that begins at the Fire Sta- Tozeur, Tunisia’s oasis town tion Artist in Residence centre in Doha. The exhibition includes Roua Khlifi more than 80 works from col- lections of the Musée National Picasso and the Foundation Tozeur Giacometti in Paris, including The She Goat (1950) by Pablo ying on the edge of the Sa- Picasso and Alberto Giacometti’s hara is the Tunisian oasis Tall Woman (1960). town of Tozeur, a charm- ing traditional village that Beirut: beckons visitors to savour Through June 1st Lthe country’s mysterious desert terrain. Souk El Tayeb is a weekly About 430km south-west of Tu- market that hosts more than 60 nis, Tozeur has a rich history dat- producers from across Lebanon ing to before the Middle Ages when with food products as well as it served as a crossing point for traditional and handmade crafts. Sahara-bound caravans. In subse- Souk El Tayeb is open 10am-4pm quent centuries, it was influenced each Thursday at the Village by the passage of civilisations — Dbayeh. the Romans to the Byzantines to the Muslims and Berbers, each of Dubai: which added to the town’s culture April 5th-8th and heritage. Tozeur was an important Numid- Pinocchio, a beloved tale of a ian town on the route between Al- puppet’s quest to become a real geria and the Gulf of Gabes on east- boy, will be on the stage of Dubai ern Tunisia’s Mediterranean coast. Community Theatre & Arts Cen- When the Romans arrived, Tozeur People visit the sculpture of the great Tunisian poet Aboul-Qacem Echebbi in Tozeur. (AFP) tre. Performed by children aged served as an important outpost and 12-16, this production promises metropolis. After the rise of the to be a fun-filled, creative play Hafsid dynasty, Tozeur was used as century, while the original old traditional style of Tunisia’s south. the antiquity period too, as it can complete with music, choreog- a slave market. town of Tozeur goes back to the Decorated with a range of geomet- be found in some archaeological raphy and sumptuous scenery. “Tozeur, being a source of water medieval times. The oldest medina ric shapes, the brick designs bear sites.” in the desert, has always attracted is the one known today as the oasis similarities to motifs found in ar- The town’s oasis contains beauti- Zammour: people who eventually settled town around the mosque.” tefacts from the ancient Berbers, ful palm trees and red-dirt paths, April 6th-9th there,” said Karem Dassy, president Dassy added: “When the Turks whose tribes settled in Tozeur in stretching across the landscape of the Association of the Safeguard- came in the 1800s, they destroyed previous centuries. like a green paradise in the mid- The firstZammour Fest takes ing of the Old Medina of Tozeur. the old town of Tozeur and it has To maintain the town’s distinct dle of the desert. The oasis can be place in a Berber village in the “This contributed to the personal- since changed. The focus has architectural style, the local gov- reached by Tozeur’s main street Tunisian Sahara. Over four days ity of those who settled in Tozeur shifted from the medieval town of ernment has mandated that build- and has many resorts. and three nights, visitors camp and their open mindedness. Tozeur to the newly built one but ers conform to the traditional Among the historical monu- in Bedouin tents, trek or bike the remains of the medieval town brickwork. ments in Tozeur is the Mosque of in the village, visit mountains, Tozeur’s peaceful still exist. Now the neighbour- “The uniqueness of the town’s Sidi Abid, which dates to 1030 and attend folklore parties and enjoy hood that is known as the architecture is based on the use of “has one of the first scriptural in- traditional food. character has old town of Tozeur is the old bricks that are unique scriptions in the town”, Dassy said. reinforced its image as neighbourhood that was to the Djerid Dassy pointed out the town’s Dubai: built between the 15th and region,” Dassy train station, which was built in April 6th-9th a resting place. the 18th centuries.” said. “This style 1913. Walking through the old was used A few kilometres outside the The Middle East Film and Comic “It also influenced their lifestyle medina’s narrow streets is during town is the majestic statue of re- Con is a multi-genre annual and deepened the values of toler- an enchanting experience. nowned Tunisian poet Aboul- event in Dubai. The MEFCC ance that can be strongly felt in Its architecture showcases Qacem Echebbi, who was from showcases comic books, movies, this part of the south of Tunisia. beautiful brick façades and Tozeur. Another popular des- television shows and related It has been very open to different intricately patterned yel- tination for visitors is the Mu- pop culture elements, such as cultures and to the passing of tribes low brickwork, all in the seum of Art and Popular Tra- anime, manga, collectible card and travellers.” dition, which houses early games, video games, webcomics “The type of Islam that is popu- artefacts, such as jewellery and fantasy novels. The event lar here is moderate Islam and it and ceramics. focuses on regionally created is very tolerant and encloses all Within the town limits is content. different sects of Islam,” Dassy the Desert Zoo of Si Tijani, added. “These elements of history named after a famed Tozeur Algeria: explain Tozeur’s peaceful present. snake-handler. The zoo contains During May It has never witnessed terrorist or various rare animals, including de- violent events. It is against the na- sert monitors, raptors, scorpions, The 18th European Cultural Fes- ture of the people there.” fennec foxes, camels and sand and tival in Algeria brings together Tozeur’s peaceful character has horned vipers. artists from more than a dozen reinforced its image as a resting To celebrate its cultural heritage, countries to perform traditional place. Since ancient times, trav- the town holds the International rhythms, jazz and flamenco. It ellers and caravans have stopped Festival of Oases of Tozeur each takes place in Algiers, Tlemcen in the area to rejuvenate and refu- November and December, paying and Constantine. el before continuing their journey homage to the artistic and folkloric deep into the Sahara. heritage of the Djerid region. Today, visitors are fascinated by Tozeur has also been the set of We welcome submissions of the town’s historical sites, such several famous Hollywood films, calendar items related to as the medinas of Tozeur. such as the Star Wars saga and The cultural events of interest to “Tozeur has more than one English Patient. travellers in the Middle East A scene from the and North Africa. medina,” Dassy said. “The most International Festival Visitors can reach the town via famous medina — Ouled Hadef — collective taxis, trains, buses and of Oases of Tozeur 2017. Please send tips to: is a relatively modern neighbour- the Tozeur-Nefta International (Facebook page of the festival) [email protected] hood that goes back to the 15th Airport..