HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Medina of Tunis is the medina quarter of
Tunis ''Tounsi'' french: Tunisois , population_note = , population_urban = , population_metro = 2658816 , population_density_km2 = , timezone1 = CET , utc_offset1 ...
, the capital of
Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...
. It has been a
UNESCO World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
since 1979. The Medina contains some 700 monuments, including
palaces A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whic ...
,
mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...
s,
mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be cons ...
s,
madrasa Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , pl. , ) is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whether for elementary instruction or higher learning. The word is variously transliterated '' ...
s and fountains dating from the Almohad and the Hafsid periods.


History

Founded in 698 around the original core of the Zitouna Mosque, the Medina of Tunis developed throughout the Middle Ages. The main axis was between the mosque and the centre of government to the west in the kasbah. To the east this same main road extended to the Bab el Bhar. Expansions to the north and south divided the main Medina into two suburbs north (
Bab Souika , demolition_date=1861, coordinates= Bab Souika ( ar, باب سويقة) is one of the gates of the medina of Tunis The Medina of Tunis is the medina quarter of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. ...
) and south (
Bab El Jazira Bab El Jazira or Bab Dzira ( ar, باب الجزيرة), in English "gate of island", is one of the gates of the medina of Tunis. The gateway allows access to the southern suburb of the city of Tunis while the northern suburb, Bab Souika , dem ...
). Before the
Almohad Caliphate The Almohad Caliphate (; ar, خِلَافَةُ ٱلْمُوَحِّدِينَ or or from ar, ٱلْمُوَحِّدُونَ, translit=al-Muwaḥḥidūn, lit=those who profess the unity of God) was a North African Berber Muslim empire ...
, other cities such as Mahdia and Kairouan had served as capitals. Under Almohad rule, Tunis became the capital of
Ifriqiya Ifriqiya ( '), also known as al-Maghrib al-Adna ( ar, المغرب الأدنى), was a medieval historical region comprising today's Tunisia and eastern Algeria, and Tripolitania (today's western Libya). It included all of what had previously ...
, and under the Hafsid period it developed into a religious, intellectual and economic center. It was during the Hafsid period that the Medina as we now know it took on its essential form. It gradually acquired a number of buildings and monuments combining the styles of
Ifriqiya Ifriqiya ( '), also known as al-Maghrib al-Adna ( ar, المغرب الأدنى), was a medieval historical region comprising today's Tunisia and eastern Algeria, and Tripolitania (today's western Libya). It included all of what had previously ...
, Andalusian and Oriental influences, but also borrowing some of the columns and capitals of
Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lett ...
and
Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
monuments.


Social and urban structure

With an area of (plus for the district of the kasbah) and nearly 110,000 inhabitants, the Medina has one-tenth of the population of Tunis and a sixth of the urbanized area of the agglomeration. The complex organization of the urban fabric fueled an entire colonial literature of the dangerous Medina, anarchic and chaotic, and the territory of ambush. However, since the 1930s, with the arrival of the first ethnologists, studies have revealed that the articulation of the Medina areas is not random, and houses are built according to clear sociocultural norms, codified according to complex types of human relationships. Many publications have detailed the development of the Medina model and system of prioritization of public and private spaces, residential and commercial, sacred and profane. The urban layout of the Medina of Tunis has the distinction of not obeying geometrical layouts or formal compositions such as
gridline In graphic design, a grid is a structure (usually two-dimensional) made up of a series of intersecting straight (vertical, horizontal, and angular) or curved lines (grid lines) used to structure content. The grid serves as an armature or framew ...
s. Nevertheless the north-south and east-west axes are comparable to a Roman cardo and decumanus (Sidi Ben Arous, Jemaa Zitouna and Pasha Streets) that intersect at the court of Zitouna mosque, house of prayer and studies. The thoroughfares include the main streets; secondary streets and finally, small cul-de-sacs. Sometimes entire private spots are reserved for women. The built environment is generally characterized by the juxtaposition of large plots (600 m) and joint ownership. The concept of public space is ambiguous in the Medina where the streets are considered as the extension of houses and subject to social tags. The notion of individual ownership is low and displays in the souks often spill out onto the highway. This idea is reinforced by the area of a shop (about 3 m) and bedroom (10 m). Tunisia291.jpg, Evening at Ramdhane Bey Square Place romdhane bey2.jpg, Ramdhane Bey Square Tunis Rus Halfaouine.jpg, El Halfaouine street Rue bir lahjar7.jpg, Bir lahjar Street In the case of domestic architecture, the more a building is set back from the shops, the more it is valued. The concept of withdrawal and privacy is paramount. The late introduction of a sewer system means that much waste water still flows through the streets of the Medina. The largest houses and noble places are generally located in the district with the highest elevation, the Kasbah quarter. The roof terraces of the Medina are also an important place for social life, as illustrated by the film Halfaouine by Férid Boughedir. Nowadays, every district retains its culture and rivalries can be strong. Thus, the northern suburb supports the football club Espérance Sportive de Tunis while the southern side is the district of the rival
Club Africain Club Africain ( ar, النادي الإفريقي) is a Tunisian football club based in Tunis that competes in the Tunisian Championship. It fields several sports teams, including football, handball, basketball, swimming and volleyball. The foot ...
. The Medina has also witnessed a social segmentation: the districts of
Tourbet el Bey The Tourbet el Bey ( ar, تربة الباي) is a Tunisian royal mausoleum in the southwest of the medina of Tunis.kasbah are wealthier, with a population of judges and politicians, Pasha street is the military and the bourgeoisie (merchants and notables), and smaller communities such as Hafisa where the Jewish population have traditionally lived.


Architecture

The
Muradid dynasty The Muradid dynasty was a dynasty of beys that ruled Tunisia from 1613 to 1702. They were succeeded in 1705 by the Husainid dynasty. History The dynasty was founded by Murad I Bey, a janissary of Corsican origin. Ramdan Bey, ruler of Tunis, ha ...
were great builders in the Medina. Hammouda Pasha (1631–1666) was responsible for the construction of many souks in the Medina, as well as many palaces, including the Dar Hammouda Pacha and the predecessor of the modern
Dar El Bey Dar El Bey ( ar, دار الباي), also known as the government palace ( ar, قصر الحكومة) is an old palace in the medina of Tunis, more precisely in the city's Kasbah. Nowadays, it serves as the office of the Head of Government of ...
. In 1655, he had Ottoman architects build the Hammouda Pacha Mosque in the Turkish style, with an elegant octagonal minaret, below which he constructed his family mausoleum.Ibn Abi Dhiaf, ''op. cit'', p. 43 His son
Murad II Bey Mourad II Bey, died 1675Ibn Abi Dhiaf, ''Présent des hommes de notre temps. Chroniques des rois de Tunis et du pacte fondamental'', vol. II, éd. Maison tunisienne de l'édition, Tunis, 1990, p. 54 in the palace of BardoIbn Abi Dhiaf, ''op. cit'', ...
(1666–1675) built the Mouradia Madrasah, dedicated to the
Maliki The ( ar, مَالِكِي) school is one of the four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. It was founded by Malik ibn Anas in the 8th century. The Maliki school of jurisprudence relies on the Quran and hadiths as prima ...
school of Islamic law.Ibn Abi Dhiaf, ''Présent des hommes de notre temps. Chroniques des rois de Tunis et du pacte fondamental'', vol. II, éd. Maison tunisienne de l'édition, Tunis, 1990, p. 55 Murad's son Mohamed Bey El Mouradi (1686–1696) built several monuments in Tunis including the ( Sidi Mahrez Mosque), modelled on the mosques of
Istanbul ) , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = 34000 to 34990 , area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side) , registration_plate = 34 , blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD , blank_i ...
with a great central dome. The Husainid ruler Ali II ibn Hussein (1759–1782) had the
Tourbet el Bey The Tourbet el Bey ( ar, تربة الباي) is a Tunisian royal mausoleum in the southwest of the medina of Tunis.Adel Latrech
"Promenade dans les tourbas de Tunis"
''La Presse de Tunisie'', 28 August 2010.
In the time of Muhammad III as-Sadiq (1859–1882) the walls of the Medina were in such bad repair that in some places they threatened to collapse. In 1865 he began demolishing them, along with a number of the Medina's historic gates:
Bab Cartagena Bab Cartagena ( ar, باب قرطاجنة) or Carthage gate is one of the gates of the medina of Tunis, it located at the east of the former enclosure. This door gave an access to the road leading to Carthage. It disappeared long before 1881 ...
,
Bab Souika , demolition_date=1861, coordinates= Bab Souika ( ar, باب سويقة) is one of the gates of the medina of Tunis The Medina of Tunis is the medina quarter of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. ...
,
Bab Bnet Bab Bnet ( ar, باب البنات) is one of the gates of the medina of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. It is the fifth gate pierced in the rampart of the medina between 1228 and 1249. References External links * Bnet ''BNET'' was a ...
and
Bab El Jazira Bab El Jazira or Bab Dzira ( ar, باب الجزيرة), in English "gate of island", is one of the gates of the medina of Tunis. The gateway allows access to the southern suburb of the city of Tunis while the northern suburb, Bab Souika , dem ...
.


Domestic architecture

*
Dar Lasram Dar Lasram is one of the palaces of the medina of Tunis. It is located at 24 Tribunal Street. History The Lasram's, an aristocratic family of Tunis, descend from a Yemeni tribe settled in Kairouan. It is composed of rich landowners. Most of t ...
*
Dar Al Jaziri Dar Al Jaziri ( ar, دار الجزيري) is a palace in the medina of Tunis. Located in the Tribunal Street, a few meters from Dar Lasram, it was one of the residences of the Jaziri family between the 12th and 18th centuries. In 1937, it hou ...
* Dar Bach Hamba * Dar Ben Ayed Image:Medina 2012 5.JPG, Close-up on a traditional door of the Medina Image:Décor Dar Othman.jpg, Vestibule of
Dar Othman Dar Othman is one of the palaces of the medina of Tunis. The residence is located in the south of the medina, 16 El Mebazaâ Street. History Dar Othman was built in the end of the sixteenth century (around 1595) by Othman, dey of Tunis, who rei ...


Landmarks


City gates

File:TunisPortFrance.jpg, Bab el Bhar File:Bab_Sidi_Kacem.jpg, Bab Sidi Kacem


Madrasas

Since the Hafsid era,
madrasa Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , pl. , ) is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whether for elementary instruction or higher learning. The word is variously transliterated '' ...
s had emerged in the medina of Tunis which appeared in Arab Orient style. It was established to serve
Almohads The Almohad Caliphate (; ar, خِلَافَةُ ٱلْمُوَحِّدِينَ or or from ar, ٱلْمُوَحِّدُونَ, translit=al-Muwaḥḥidūn, lit=those who profess the unity of God) was a North African Berber Muslim empire ...
by raising workers for public services. The Hafsid
sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it c ...
s took care of the establishment of madrasas, and the princesses participated in this effort as well as the initiatives of the scholars and the
imam Imam (; ar, إمام '; plural: ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a worship leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, lead prayers, serve ...
s in this field, and several madrasas emerged as a link to the patrons. The establishment of schools continued after the annexation of Tunisia by the
Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...
, but the purpose of these madrasas had changed over time. Since 17th century when the Ottomans arrived, they employed these madrasas to spread their
Hanafi The Hanafi school ( ar, حَنَفِية, translit=Ḥanafiyah; also called Hanafite in English), Hanafism, or the Hanafi fiqh, is the oldest and one of the four traditional major Sunni schools ( maddhab) of Islamic Law (Fiqh). It is named a ...
maddhab A ( ar, مذهب ', , "way to act". pl. مَذَاهِب , ) is a school of thought within ''fiqh'' (Islamic jurisprudence). The major Sunni Mathhab are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali. They emerged in the ninth and tenth centuries CE an ...
. However in the 20th century, the role of these madrasas are mostly confined to accommodation of the students studying in
Ez-Zitouna University Ez-Zitouna University ( ar, جامعة الزيتونة, french: Université Ez-Zitouna) is a public ancient university in Tunis, Tunisia. The university originates in the Al-Zaytuna Mosque, founded at the end of the 7th century or in the early ...
.


Mosques

The Medina contains most of the great mosques of the capital, which were all built before the French protectorate. The main Zitouna Mosque was built in 732 in the heart of the Medina and then rebuilt in 864. It was also for a long time an important place of culture and knowledge, acting as home to the Zitouna University until the independence of Tunisia. It still hosts ceremonies marking the main dates of the Muslim calendar that are regularly attended by the President of the Republic. The Kasbah Mosque built between 1231 and 1235, was the second mosque to be built in the Medina, intended for the rulers themselves, who lived in the nearby Kasbah. It is distinguished especially by the dome in stalactites preceding the mihrab and by its minaret that recalls that of the Koutoubia of Marrakech and is the highest in the Medina. The
Ksar Mosque Ksar Mosque or Jemaâ Al Ksar ( ar, جامع القصر), also of the Hanafi rite, is a mosque in Tunis, Tunisia. History Located in front of Dar Hussein (Bab Menara), it was built in the early 12th century. It was a royal mosque, probably built ...
of the Hanafi rite, located opposite the Dar Hussein (Bab Menara), was built in the 12th century under the
Khurasanid dynasty The Khurasanid Dynasty ( ar, بنو خراسان, Banu Khurasan) was a Sanhaja Berber Sunni Muslim dynasty centered in Tunisia. It ruled an independent principality in Tunis from 1059 to 1148 when they became governors of Ifriqiya under the Sic ...
. The
Youssef Dey Mosque Youssef Dey Mosque, also known as Al B'chamqiya, is a 17th-century mosque in Tunis, Tunisia, located in Medina area of the city. The mosque is considered significant as it was the first Ottoman- Turkish mosque to be built in Tunis. An offici ...
functioned first as an oratory before becoming a mosque in 1631, and is the first mosque of the Ottoman-Turkish period. The Hammouda-Pacha mosque, built in 1655, was the second mosque of the Hanefite rite built in Tunis while the Sidi Mahrez mosque is the largest mosque of this type in the country. Built from 1692 to 1697, it is Ottoman-inspired and recalls some Istanbul mosques such as the Blue Mosque (erected between 1609 and 1616) and the Yeni Valide (completed in 1663). The El Jedid Mosque, built by the founder of the Hussein dynasty Hussein the Ist Bey between 1723 and 1727, has, like the Youssef Dey and Hammouda-Pacha mosques, an Ottoman-inspired octagonal minaret. File:Tunis Mosquée Zitouna.jpg, Al-Zaytuna Mosque File:Façade de l'interieure de la mosquée Zitouna qui donne sur la cour..jpg, Zitouna Mosque Court File:Tunis Mosquée Ksar.JPG, El Ksar Mosque dating from 12th century (with the exception of its minaret built 17th century) File:Youssef Dey.jpg, Youssef Dey Mosque (First half of the 17th century) File:Salle de priére Mhamed Bey.png, Prayer room of the mosque Sidi Mahrez (End of the 17th century) File:Mosquée Saheb Ettabaa.JPG, View of the mosque Saheb Ettabaâ (beginning of 19th century)


Palaces

The palaces or the ''Dars'' are one of the most important historical monuments in the ancient city of Tunis, which were inhabited by politicians, wealthy class and dignitaries of the city. File:Patio principal du Dar Lasram.jpg, Dar Lasram File:Dar Ben Achour photo 2 دار ابن عاشور.JPG, Dar Ben Achour File:Tunis Maison Jaziri.JPG, Dar Al Jaziri


Contemporary art

The Medina, the old city, of
Tunis ''Tounsi'' french: Tunisois , population_note = , population_urban = , population_metro = 2658816 , population_density_km2 = , timezone1 = CET , utc_offset1 ...
hosts two of the largest contemporary art projects in
Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...
. The Medina alternates each year between hosting INTERFERENCE and
Dream City Diamond Research and Mercantile City, also known as DREAM City, is an upcoming business district in Surat, India. It will be built on of land near Khajod, along the lines of the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City and Dholera Smart city ne ...
. These two art projects invest in public space and draw on the interior and exterior of these old buildings material for creating art. But these are also spaces where the audience can experience a unique contemporary art experience. '
Dream City
'' was founded in 2007 by Salma Ouissi and Sofian Ouissi “as an answer to the Tunisian political situation and to re-appropriate a public space confiscated by the politicians”. It continues to be a singular art project that is challenging the contemporary aesthetic within the country. Each edition of  the festival offers Tunis different creations in several art fields:dance, plastic arts, video, theater, music, literature, performance, etc. The works are inspired by the year’s social theme and designed for each particular place. '
INTERFERENCE
'' is the first light art project of this scale to take place on the African continent. Founded by Aymen Gharbi and Bettina Pelz in 2016, the first edition was a success due to the collective effort of almost 200 volunteers, the Medina community, a plethora of organizations, institutions, and companies and a multitude international artists. Both Gharbi and Pelz were driven to create this festival by the lack of diversity in professional opportunities for the young creatives in
Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...
. In response, these two
curator A curator (from la, cura, meaning "to take care") is a manager or overseer. When working with cultural organizations, a curator is typically a "collections curator" or an "exhibitions curator", and has multifaceted tasks dependent on the parti ...
s created space to both build collectively new job opportunities and widen artistic perspectives. The urban and social structure of the Medina offers a fertile ground for contemporary art creation and site-specific production. Both festivals and as well other cultural initiatives in Tunis profited from the social environment of the Medina context and it continues to  be considered it as a niche for artistic growth and development. Artists and creators are overwhelmed by the richness of the architectural and social fabric of the old city and find it inspiring and stimulating for their artwork. As gentrification has not affected the Medina on a grand scale just yet, the social and urban tissue offers subjects and places to be discovered and to become a part of the artistic process for both International and national artists to investigate contemporary Tunisian social worlds. Over the past ten years, contemporary art is becoming an important part of the identity of the Medina of Tunis itself.


See also

* Religion in Tunisia * Sainte-Croix Church of Tunis, a former church building *
Moorish architecture Moorish architecture is a style within Islamic architecture which developed in the western Islamic world, including al-Andalus (on the Iberian Peninsula, Iberian peninsula) and what is now Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia (part of the Maghreb). The ...


References


External links


Association pour la sauvegarde de la medina de Tunis
(in French)
UNESCO site on the Tunis Medinathe former Jewish quarter (hara) of the medina
{{World Heritage Sites in Tunisia 7th-century establishments in the Umayyad Caliphate