Abandoned in the late 19C by its wealthy inhabitants who moved out to the modern town, Tunis' medina is now back in fashion. The best way to explore this area is to get lost in its maze of narrow streets. Dotted with tiny squares and alleyways, the old town is also home to private houses and palaces which provide oases of calm a million miles away from the noisy, bustling district of the souks. In the centre of the medina stands the Great Mosque, the main focus of local life on Fridays.