El Medina, The Old Town of Tunis
As you enter the
narrow streets , centuries slip away and, like Alice, step into the
looking glass to another world. Small shops, their treasures of brass,
olive wood, leather and brightly colored garments spill out into the
street. Souvenirs, antiques,
Berber jewelry , carpets and pottery vie for your attention.
Continue, if you can resist their lures, upwards towards the Mosque of the
Olive Tree, Ez Zitouna, as old as the town itself and the heart of the
Medina.
Rebuilt
in the 9th century, the
Ez Zitouna
was for centuries the focal point of life in the Arab city as urban
planning decreed the order in which the different trades were placed, and
the most noble, booksellers, perfumeries, dried fruits sellers and cloth
merchants held the privilege of proximity to the Mosque. Today one can
still see traces of this tradition -the Souk of the Perfumes, traditional
clothing shops, almond and spice sellers are still located alongside its
walls.
