Zarzis جرجيس | |
|---|---|
 The mosque of Zarzis | |
| Nickname: "درّة الجنوب" (dorrat al-janoub) which means "The Pearl of the South" | |
  Zarzis | |
| Coordinates:33°30′N11°7′E / 33.500°N 11.117°E /33.500; 11.117 | |
| Country |  Tunisia |
| Governorate | Médenine Governorate |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mekki Laraiedh (Ennahdha) |
| Area | |
• Total | 340 km2 (130 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Population (2014) | |
• Total | 78,766 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Zarzis, also known asJarjis (Arabic:جرجيسgergīs / zerzīsⓘ), is a coastal commune (municipality) in southeasternTunisia, former bishopric and Latin Catholictitular see under its ancient name Gergis.
To thePhoenicians,Romans andArabs the port was of strategic importance.
It lies on the coast of the Mediterranean, where the climate is mainly dry and sunny, making it a popular tourist destination mixing the old and the traditional. It has a major port where apark of economic activities is based.
Located at the southern end of the eastern peninsula that bears his name, thedélégation (district) of Zarzis has a very large coastline. There are a variety of landscapes reflecting a great diversity of climatic conditions.
The city was known in Antiquity asGergis and located at the western end of theLesser Syrtis (Gulf of Gabès), not far from the island ofMeninx (current Djerba). The town may owe its name and/or origin to the Biblical tribes ofGirgashites which, according to ancient Jewish writers, had left theCanaan at the time ofJoshua and went to settle in North Africa.[citation needed]
According toStadiasme, it had acastle, where stood the ruins and acitadel modern still bearing the old name albeit now pronouncedZarzis, and a (navy) port.
Gergis was important enough in theRoman province ofTripolitania (in the papal sway) to become asuffragan bishopric, which was to fade, presumably at theseventh century advent of Islam. Its ecclesiastical history is confused, due to confusion in consulting the Latin sources with the near-homonymous dioceseGirba (modern Djerba).[2]
The diocese was nominally restored in 1933 as a Latin Catholictitular bishopric of Gergis (Latin) / Gergi (Curiate Italian) / Gergitan(us) (Latin adjective).
It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) rank :
Economic activity of Zarzis is mainly based ontourism, fishing and agriculture; in industry, the food sector dominates with 55 of 89 firms.
Theolive occupies a special place in Zarziswhere there are 1,228,700 feet occupying an area of 61,335 hectares of which 85% are in full production[citation needed]. Production of the campaign 1999 - 2000 reached 59,500 tons olives, equivalent to 11,900 tons ofolive oil. This production is processed through the 57 mills[clarification needed] of the delegation and provides more than 5,000 direct jobs.In 2011, the city is the scene of stowaway to Europe.[3]The local economy is diverse—agriculture, mainly olives, oil and tourism.
Media related toZarzis at Wikimedia Commons
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