The medina (souq) marketplace is the ancient core of Tunis, since the 7th century. Narrow alleyways are lined with hundreds of tiny shops and stalls selling everything from ladies underwear to sweet pastries. Every corner is a different scene, from pizza bakeries to cafes with hookah pipes for rent. Its crowded, colorful and noisy. The main mosque is Zaytouna that dates from the 8th century. Some of the mosque’s columns were taken from the ruins of nearby Carthage, not an easy task since a single column weighs several tons. During the French occupation of Tunisia in the 19-20th centuries the city grew far beyond the medina and is now a modern city of 2.5 million people.

 

Barbed wire along Avenue Bourguiba. In the 2011 revolution the
View from a decorative viewpoint.
Close-up of Zaytouna mosque dome.
Minaret tower of Zaytouna mosque.
Another decorative door leading to ...?
Medina clothing shop in front of a colonial facade.
Boys selling coconut meat in front of medina entry.
Interior courtyard of a small mall.
Upscale cafe in front of National Theatre.
Arab men friends often hang on each other. This is
Two students in central Tunis walking past graffiti wall slogans.
Catholic cathedral of St Vincent de Paul in central Tunis.
Trolley car in front of cathedral of St Vincent de
Military presence in front of cathedral of St Vincent de
City view with Hamuda Pasha minaret.
Barbed wire along Avenue Bourguiba. In the 2011 revolution the
Barbed wire along Avenue Bourguiba. In the 2011 revolution the
Barbed wire along Avenue Bourguiba. In the 2011 revolution the
Clock tower
Staggered architecture of an office building.
On the western edge of the medina are government buildings
On the western edge of the medina are government buildings
On the western edge of the medina are government buildings
On the western edge of the medina are government buildings
On the western edge of the medina are government buildings
On the tram going out of town is this view
One of many modern buildings in suburban Tunis.
The Tunis airport is in the suburb, not far from
Many doors in the medina are decorated with patterns of
The ancient Port du France is the main entrance to
Looking through the Port du France to the colonial buildings
Inside the medina are narrow crowded alleyways with countless stalls
Ladies apparel can be vary plain or very decorative.
Young women often wear jeans of various colors.
Sticky pastries for sale along the narrow walkways
Souvenir drums.
Entrance to the El-Kachachine hammam bath house
The father and son who run the El-Kachachine hammam bath
Entry hall of El-Kachachine hammam bath house
Ancient worn steps lead to a typical arched doorway.
Grains and beans for sale in the medina.
Men dressed in usual dark clothes smoking tobaccothrough hookas (water
Avenue Bourguiba is the main boulevard that leads through the
Minaret of the Hamuda Pasha mosque, one of several in
Many doors in the medina are decorated with patterns of
Dar El Jeld upscale French restaurant in the medina.
Dar El Jeld upscale French restaurant in the medina.
Dinnerware at Dar El Jeld restaurant in the medina.
More decorated doors.
Medina narrow souq alley.
Souvenir decorative miniature mirrors.
Ubiquitous rugs are everywhere.
Old man plodding his way along a souq,
Another decorative door with paintings for sale.
Old man resting next to an ancient column and a
Overview of the famous Zaytouna mosque.

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