Tunis Things to Do

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This sloping square at the western side of the Medina hosts the Prime Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Foreign Ministry. Since the Independence of the country, the Prime Ministry is settled in the Dar El Bey, also named Palais du Gouvernement (Palace of the Government), which was built in 1795 for the important guests of the Husseinite beys, replacing a former palace from the 17th century. West of the Place du Gouvernement the architecture becomes more modern with the Place de la Kasbah (the Kasbah Plaza).

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The Ottoman sovereign Youssef Dey brought novelty to the religious life of Tunis by building this mosque in 1616. It was indeed the first mosque dedicated to the practice of the Muslim Hanefite rite of the Ottoman Turks, while the Arabic Tunis inhabitants used to practice the Muslim Malekite rite. It was also the first mosque in Tunis to possess an octagonal-shaped minaret. It was also the first one to be associated with the mausoleum of its founder, Youssef Dey, who was buried with his family in the shade of the mosque.

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This is the blacksmiths street and is located at the southern end of the Medina near Bab Jedid. Here you can find metal workers and guys working looms by hand in small units lining both sides of this small street.

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Tourbet el Bey is the Ottoman mausoleum of the Husseinite dynasty that ruled Tunisia for more than two centuries. The marble graves of almost all the Husseinite Beys lay there, along with those of their families and their favourite ministers and court people. The mausoleum was erected during the reign of Ali Bey II (1759-1782). The graves occupy the patio and a set of rooms crested with domes that are sometimes covered with green tiles. The walls are adorned with polychrome faience tiles in the outdoor space and with ceramic tiles and finely worked stucco on the ceiling domes inside the rooms. The most richly decorated room, partly covered with wrought marble, is the one that houses the graves of the beys who ruled the country. The male graves are topped with some epitaphs that are characterized by a marble tarbouch (an ottoman hat) or a marble turban, whereas the female graves enjoy simple marble plates. More photos can be found in one of my travelogues.

Open: 9.30am - 4.30pm Tues-Sun. Admission: TD2, camera TD1.

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Dar Ben Abdallah is a magnificent palace built in 1796. It used to be the house of one Tunis Bey’s son-in-laws, then it was bought by the wealthy silk weaver Ben Abdallah, and later sold to a French orientalist painter in the beginning of the 20th century. A sumptuous vestibule (driba in Arabic) leads to a patio paved with marble and surrounded by columns on the first and second floor. The walls are covered with ceramic tiles and finely worked stucco. The rooms have wonderful painted ceilings. The four rooms around the patio are home to an exhibit about the 19th century Tunis bourgeois families. The domestic life is depicted through items of that time, such as dresses, embroidery, weaving, wedding accessories, and fineries. Ancient children's toys and clothes are on display in one room. More photos can be found in one of my travelogues.

Open: 9.30am - 4.30pm Mon-Sat. Admission: TD2, camera TD1.

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Othman Dey, who ruled from 1598 to 1610, built this magnificent palace in the early 17th century. It became a barracks warehouse in the 19th century and then the house of the Tunis Bey’s Prime Minister. This building is now listed as a historical monument and distinguishes itself by its Hafsid-style façade and its huge white and black marble entrance door. The interior features a nice courtyard garden. Entrance is free.

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A Medersa is a school for the study of the Quran. There are several surrounding the Zaytuna Mosque in the Medina. This one has a narrow passageway entrance which I walked through and was met by a chap who showed me around. It was built in 1752 by Ali Pasha and now houses an artisans school.

The National Library or Bibliothèque nationale de Tunisie was built initially built as a barracks and prison in 1810 and is located in the Medina near the Zaytuna Mosque. The National Library was established in 1885 and was transferred here in 1910 and was raised to the status of National Library when Tunisia gained independence in 1956. It contains 23,000 manuscripts dating from the 10th century.