The capital of Tunisia invites tourists to see the sights of the nearest suburb - Carthage, walk through the labyrinth of narrow streets of Medina (they will lead to luxurious facades, ancient mosques and Arab coffee houses), visit colorful and noisy markets, look into the Orthodox Church - the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, have a bite to eat in one from catering establishments on Habib Bourguiba Avenue.
Zitouna Mosque
Non-Muslims can visit this mosque (its name in translation means “olive tree”, which, according to legend, grew on the site of its construction), but only outside prayer hours (tourists have no access to the prayer hall). Despite its modest external size, the mosque has a considerable territory (about 5000 m2) with 9 entrances and a courtyard with more than 180 antique columns (they were taken from the ruins of Carthage and were used for the construction of the mosque). It is worth noting that rainwater is used here for rituals (it is collected in special tanks). Tourists (they should observe strict dress code) will be offered to look into the library (stores books and unique manuscripts), admire the 43-meter minaret, and examine the sundial.
Useful information: access is open from 8 am to noon, except Friday; address: Ville Arabe, Rue Jemaa Ezzitouna, website: www.azzeitouna.com.
Palace Dar Ben Abdallah
The palace is decorated with marble and colored ceramic slabs, as well as painted wood panels. Inside, guests will find a museum with halls reserved for exhibitions. The exposition is interesting for the recreated life of wealthy Tunisian families of the 19th century (you will be able to admire men's attire, wedding dresses, luxurious furniture, recreated cuisine of aristocrats).
Bab el-Bhar gate
The gate is one of the recognizable symbols of Tunisia, against which it is worth taking a few photos (restoration was carried out in 1985). The gate "draws" the border between the old and new parts of the city. Previously, there was a lake behind them, and today it is a 1.5-kilometer street with cafes, French-style houses and shops.
Bardo Museum
The palace is a museum building (a visit will cost 11 dinars), boasts a fantastic interior (painting on ceramics and wood, alabaster carving, a complex system of stairs), and the exhibition area for convenience is divided into sections (Punic, Roman, prehistoric and other periods) … Visitors are invited to admire ancient Roman and Byzantine mosaics, marine atlases, various statues, and they are also invited to look into the hall where objects are exhibited (they were raised from the seabed) related to the Mahdian shipwreck.
