The Top Five Things to Do In Tunis
Tunis is the capital and also the largest city in Tunisia. Set on the edge of the Mediterranean gulf on one side and the Tunis river on the other, this bustling city has a lot to offer travelers from around the world.
While Tunis is a modern city, it still holds on to its historical past, the majority of the history and culture will be found in the Medina. On your Tunisia tour, you might want to visit:
The Medina of Tunis
The Medina is the old town of Tunis and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are over seven hundred monuments to be explored including palaces, mosques, souks and mausoleums. One tenth of the Tunis residents still live in the Medina.
The souks are exciting, brimming with bright colors, fantastic aromas and fantastic traditional items for sale from clothing and jewelery to perfumes and carpets.
Sidi Mahres Mosque
The Sidid Mahres Mosque is the most spectacular in the Medina area. This mosque dates back to the 1600’s and you can’t miss it with its white domed roof. While you cannot enter the mosque if you are not Muslim, you are able to soak up the spectacular architecture of this beautiful building.
Tourbet el-Bey
Tourbet el-Bey is one of the most spectacular monuments dating back to the 1700’s. This mausoleum is showcased in Ottoman styled architecture with the main room of the building being where the Prince was buried. The other rooms of the mausoleum are where his relatives were laid to rest. Each room has beautiful carved ceilings and ceramic clad walls and the courtyard has also got a fair number of burial sites to explore.
Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul
This cathedral is a Roman Catholic Cathedral with a selection of architectural styles from Gothic to Moorish and even some Neo-Byzantine in between. The church first opened its doors in 1897 just in time for Christmas. The church remains the property of the Roman Catholic church and offers visitors a spectacular display of architecture with a magnificent interior.
Dar Ben Abdallah Museum
This is one of the palatial homes in the Medina and is well worth the visit when visiting Tunis. The interiors are simply beautiful. The home belonged to a high ranking officer back in the 1700’s. It was remodeled in the 1900’s and has four rooms dedicated to the 19th century luxurious lifestyle.