Medina of Tunis

The Medina of Tunis – the historic quarter of the capital of Tunisia – is a labyrinth of some 700 monuments and buildings, many dating to the period between the 12th and the 16th centuries.

History of Medina of Tunis

The Medina of Tunis was founded in the 7th century following the fall of Carthage, but flourished in the 12th century under the rule of the Almohad Dynasty then the Hafsid Dynasty up to the 16th century, both being Berber dynasties. During this time, Tunis was a thriving centre of commerce and culture, the result today being an impressive collection of surviving mosques, palaces, and monuments.

The oldest mosque in the Medina of Tunis is the Al-Zaytuna Mosque or ‘Mosque of Olives’, which is thought to date back to the seventh or eighth century. The Sidi Mehrez Mosque in the Souk Ejjadid, with its distinctive white domes, is one of the most noticeable in the Medina of Tunis, it dating back to 1675.

Medina of Tunis Today

Today, visitors enter the Medina of Tunis via the Bab el Bahr, a gateway also known as the Porte de France, a reminder of Tunis’ time under French rule (1881-1956). It was also under the French that the importance of the Tunis of Medina declined as the city expanded. There is a map of the Tunis of Medina next to the gate, allowing visitors to get their bearings, and orange signs can be found throughout pointing to various sites.

The Medina of Tunis is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of our Top 10 Tunisian Tourist Attractions.

Getting to Medina of Tunis

From the centre of Tunis, the site is a 10 minute drive via ave Ali Belhouane. By foot, it’s a 25 minute walk via Avenue Habib Thameur.