Italy-Tunisia: Magon circuit, an itinerary for food and wine

The food and wine tourism, a qualified segment of cultural tourism on the rise, according to the World Tourism Organization, is a new opportunity for Tunisia. The association ''Route des vins - Iter vitis Magon'' has been created with the signature of the local chamber of wine producers (Chambre syndicale nationale des producteurs des vins, bières et alcools) and several institutional and private partners at the Italian institute of culture in Tunis.

The circuit created under the project Enpi CBC Med of trans-border cooperation program Magon has thus been created, tracing for the first time in a Muslim country an itinerary inspired by the culture of wine as a joint root of Mediterranean identity.

It is an identity claimed ''in a country that refuses at this point to communicate an image limited to the sole Arab-Muslin component, claiming his other, numerous, intricate and very rich cultural roots'', explained to ANSAmed the secretary general of the association, Mila Lauretta, adding that the Magon circuit expressed its originality in the integration of different Tunisian producers, at this time limited to the Cape Bon peninsula and represented by very modern productions.

Thanks to the Magon project - the well known Carthage agronomist who wrote the famous treaty in 28 volumes that the Senate of Rome ordered to bring in Urbe and translate into Latin when Carthage was conquered - the producers taking part in the initiative have been equipped to welcome visitors according to the most modern international standards. It is possible to sip top Tunisian wines in the Magon circuits inside sites and museums, designed along a fil rouge of findings that are inspired by the culture of wine.

The touristic-cultural tour will promote connections to existing archaeological sites of Phoenician and Punic origin in Tunisia and Sicily and the contribution of this civilization in relation to the development of Mediterranean winemaking.

The circuit will include Carthage and Cape Bon in Tunisia (including the archaeological sites of Kerkouane, Bardo and Nabeul museums, DOC areas: Grand Cru Mornag, Mornag, Sidi Salem, Kélibia); in Sicily, the archaeological sites interested are in Selinunte and its ex Chora (between Mount Adranone and the museum of Sambuca, wine routes ''Terre Sicane'' Menfi,Sambuca, and Santa Margherita Belice).

The new association, created to manage the itinerary, is also branded ''Iter Vitis'', a federation recognized by the Council of Europe which brings the Tunisian circuit, integrated with Sicily's, on the international scenario.

The national tourism office of Tunisia (Ontt) strongly believes in this new challenge and vies to present the new touristic product to foreign tour operators by next month. 

Source of article ANSAmed