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al-Madinah (Medina in Tunis) Description: The medina, or old quarter, of Tunis was built during the seventh century AD. From the 12th to the 16th centuries, Tunis was considered to be one of the greatest and wealthiest cities of the Islamic world and its medina is testimony to its former grandeur. Today, visitors can step back in time through the maze of narrow, winding streets and barter for souvenirs with the locals; goods on sale include colourful hand-made carpets, hand-crafted jewellery, copper and brassware, pottery and exotic spices. Among the more frequented attractions found within the walls of the medina are: the ninth-century Ez-Zitouna Mosqu (Mosque of the Olive Tree), which is the largest mosque in the city and is located at the centre of the medina; the perfume makers’ Souk el Attarine and Tunis’s first Ottoman-style mosque, Sidi Yousef, built in the 17th century. There are five entrances to the medina, the most commonly-used by tourists is the Bab el-Bhar (Door to the Sea). Contact Addresses: For more information on the Medina in Tunis, contact the Office National du Tourisme Tunisien (see Tourist Information above). Transportation: Air: Tunis-Carthage International Airport. Water: Ferry: Services from Sardinia, Sicily, Genoa, Naples, Marseille and Malta. Rail: Train: Tunis Ville Station. Underground: Medina. Road: Taxi: Services operate from the airport. Car: Avenue Habib Bourguiba, Place de l’Independence and Avenue de France (from Carthage). Opening Times: Medina: Daily 24 hours. Ez-Zitouna Mosqu: Sun-Thurs 0800-1200. Souk el Attarine: Daily 0900-1800. Sidi Yousef: Daily dawn-dusk. Visitors to the mosque must wear modest dress. Admission Fees: Medina: Free. Ez-Zitouna Mosqu: TD1.6. Souk el Attarine: Free. Sidi Yousef: Free. 
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