Hammamet's International Culture Centre is the ultimate party house. It's a mansion designed and built by Romanian millionaire George Sebastian from 1920 to 1932. Frank Lloyd Wright said it was one of the most beautiful places he knew: the appreciative architect was just one of Sebastian's many illustrious, bohemian guests. It has a central colonnaded swimming pool, a huge black marble dining table and a baptistry font-style four-seater bath surrounded by mirrors.
Nazi Erwin Rommel used the house as an Axis headquarters during WWII, and after the war British prime minister Winston Churchill stayed here to write his memoirs. It's bizarre to imagine them here in these decadent surroundings -hopefully they enjoyed the four-person bathtub. The house feels unloved, but its faded feel evokes a sense of good times past. It now hosts interesting displays of art. The terrace faces a rich view of flowers, greenery and sea-flooded horizon, and you can walk down to the beach, where there is a small café serving drinks. It's a particularly lovely stretch of beach frontage and it's usually empty, so bring your beach kit with you. The 14-acre grounds include a Greek-style amphitheatre, built in 1962, used during July and August to stage Hammamet's annual International Cultural Festival, with entertainment ranging from classical theatre to Arabic music. Tickets are sold at the tourist office and at the door. The cultural centre is 3km northwest of the town centre - a taxi will set you back around TD1 or so.
