The Souk el-Leffa specialises in wool products, in particular carpets and blankets. The atmosphere here and in the nearby Souk ed Dziria is more intimate than elsewhere, and everything is conspicuous by its age, including the bazaars and even the pat..

A former slaves’ market, the Souk el-Berka nowadays sells jewellery and precious stones. The boutiques themselves, created from sculpted wood which has been painted sky blue, are almost as beautiful as the myriad necklaces, rings, bracelets and earri..

Along with the National Assembly, the Bardo Museum occupies the buildings of the former Bey palace. The magnificent interior decoration is equalled only by the superb exhibits displayed in the museum, which houses a collection of international renown..

The plan of the Roman city of Dougga seems to have been dictated by the steep slope and by the former Numidian presence here, given that the layout does not conform to that of a typical Roman town. During the period of its greatest splendour, Dougga ..

It is during the annual theatre festival , held in the month of May, that Dougga rediscovers its former grandeur. Built in AD 168-169 to accommodate 3 500 spectators, at a time when the population of the town was no more than 5 000, this monument is..

The most majestic monument on the Dougga site, the Capitol stands out in particular because of its attractive golden hue. Impressive in terms of both its grace and elegance, making it one of the most beautiful Roman buildings in North Africa, it is d..

The House of the Hunt takes its name from a mosaic, little of which survives, which depicts the rich variety of game once found around Bulla Regia. The basement rooms, buried 5.15m underground, have retained some beautiful paving practically intact. ..

Incorrectly known as the “Barber’s Mosque”, this mausoleum is in fact a zaouïa housing the tomb of Abu Dhama . This companion of Mohammed was nicknamed Sidi Sahab (“carrier of three hairs”) as he was said always to carry with him hairs from the Pr..

Huge ochre-coloured walls surround the Great Mosque, which was built in the 7C and is considered to be one of the oldest in the Maghreb. Its large courtyard is surrounded by a beautiful colonnaded arcade. The three-storey minaret stands in one corner..

The magnificent El-Jem amphitheatre , built in the 3C AD and the third largest in the Roman Empire (after Rome and Capua), is the best preserved monument of ancient Thysdrus. With 40 000 inhabitants during the Roman period, Thysdrus was originally a..

Situated off the main tourist routes, the El-Jem Archaeological Museum is well worth a visit for its peaceful atmosphere and well-presented collections. The museum is home to huge mosaics discovered during excavations carried out at ancient Thysdr..

The Sahara (“desert” in Arabic) covers an area of over 8 million km 2 from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, and marks the transition between Mediterranean North Africa (from Morocco to Egypt) and Black Africa. The image conjured up by the name Sahara is..

This is without a doubt the most fascinating museum in southern Tunisia. The largest private museum in the country, it is owned by the mayor of Tozeur, Abderrazak Cherait, whose aim was to create a museum dedicated both to the town and the Sahara. Hi..

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 o..

Closed on Fridays to non-Muslims, the Great Mosque is the largest Muslim place of worship in Tunis. Its 44m-high minaret dominates the medina and the mosque’s huge courtyard, which is lined with a gallery accessed from the nearby souks. The prayer h..

The Souk el-Attarine dates from the 13C and is without doubt one of the most beautiful markets in the old town, with its narrow yet extensive boutiques which seem to contain some of the Orient’s most mysterious items. Every shop is a feast for the se..

Situated away from the city’s residential districts, the souks of Tunis are home to narrow yet extensive small shops standing one next to the other, where merchants and artisans are grouped together according to their speciality. Their precise locati..

The Souk et-Trouk owes its names to the Turkish weavers and tailors who once worked here. Nowadays, clothing shops stand alongside boutiques selling furniture, carpets, souvenirs and above all leather goods. The street is completely covered by high b..

The Souk el-Koumach (Fabrics Souk) dates from the 15C. It is located on the west side of the Great Mosque and consists of three alleyways separated by columns decorated in red and green. Here, also, the antiquated shops almost disappear beneath piles..

Sidi Bou Saïd owes its recognition and preservation to Baron d’Erlanger, a painter and music enthusiast who settled in the village in the early 20C. His palace, the Ennejma Ezzahra, is now home to the Centre of Arab and Mediterranean Music , which a..