The Medina of Tunis

The Medina of Tunis is the ancient heart of the Tunisian capital, a UNESCO site and one of the best-preserved and most authentic medinas in the Arab world. Founded over a thousand years ago, its dense labyrinth of narrow lanes and covered souks, each traditionally devoted to a trade, winds past the great Zitouna Mosque, hidden palaces, madrasas, ornate doorways and shady courtyards, a living, working old town of craft, commerce and daily life at the centre of the modern city.

History

Founded in 698 around the Zitouna Mosque, the medina grew through the Middle Ages along a main street between the mosque and the seat of government in the kasbah, extended east to Bab el Bhar, with suburbs to the north and south. Tunis became the capital of Ifriqiya under the Almohads, after Mahdia and Kairouan, and under the Hafsids it grew into a religious, intellectual and economic centre and took its present form, with buildings mixing Ifriqiyan, Andalusian and Eastern styles and reusing Roman and Byzantine columns. Some 700 monuments survive, and the medina has been a World Heritage Site since 1979 (Wikipedia, Medina of Tunis).

Highlights

• The covered souks - the labyrinth of trade markets.
• The Zitouna Mosque - the great historic mosque at its heart.
• The palaces and doorways - the hidden mansions and ornate doors.
• The Bardo Museum - the superb Roman mosaic museum nearby.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather; the medina is a working old town, liveliest during the day when the souks are busy. It is best explored with time to wander and get pleasantly lost in the lanes.

Practical notes

It is a genuine, working medina rather than a polished tourist showpiece, so it is atmospheric but can be chaotic, and touts and shopkeepers can be persistent, with haggling expected. It is easy to get lost, which is part of the fun. The superb Bardo Museum, with its world-class Roman mosaics, is a short trip away and unmissable.

Nearby

The Bardo Museum, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said are within reach.

Key facts