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HISTORICAL SITES AND MONUMENTS :
 EL
FOUTOUH DOOR( also called Skifa El Kahla and BAB ZOUILA):
The construction of this monument
goes back as far as the 1st years of the 4th Hegira century
(303-308 H) (916-921 AD). It was the principal tower of the
land rampart. It was also the unique land gate through the
Medina.
Bab Zouila (Zouila Door) consists of an 18,50 meter- high
tower whose width is 21 m and depth is 12,70 meters. Its 33
meter long and 5, 10 meter wide, roofed gateway leads to the
markets.
Since the beginning of the 10th till: the mid 16th century
there used to be six iron gates in the passage way.
After the Spanish had destroyed the rampart in 1555, several
changes occurred in Bab Zouila. The last alteration was made
in 1311 Hegira 1893 AD.
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EL FOUTOUH DOOR |
EL KaemBiAmrEllah Castle::
It was built by UbeidAllah El Mehdi
in the beginning of the 10th century for his son, and his successor,
El KaemBiAmrEllah. It had been used as a castle by the 2 Zyrite
princes before it was destroyed and its stones were used elsewhere.
That happened after the Spanish had occupied the town in the mid
16th c. Recent digging in this monument enabled archaeologists to
find a 2, 60 m2 mosaic which, undoubtedly, ornamented the castle's
biggest room.
THE GREAT MOSQUE:
It was built as soon as the town
was settled in the beginning of the 10th c AD, (the beginning of
the 4thc H). It was considered as a private Mosque for the Khalifa
and his relatives. Much alteration was done to the mosque especially
in the mid 16thc AD when the Spanish turned it into a church and
a cemetery for army leaders.
It was rebuilt and renewed in 1962. Only the surface, the outside
front wall and the entrance, which resembles the Roman Victory Arch,
kept their original size and form. One of the characteristics of
the Mosque is that it has no minaret.
THE
SHIP BUILDING (THE SEA HOUSE):
The second ship building in the Fatimid Mahdia was
set by Moez Lidine Ellah. It enclosed a yard harbour and roofed
stores. Ship building in Mahdia had never stopped until the Hafsite
Dynasty took over.
It was considered as one of the most important factories together
with the ones in Tunis and Bjaya
The Ancient Harbour:
This port lies in a low land separating two elevations:
Sidi Jabeur and the Big Fortress (Bordj El Kbir) on the south eastern
coast of Mahdia peninsula.
Therefore, it is out of North Western wind reach.
It is an inlet of deep waters.
Recent research proved this port had been carved in stones. It is
as old as the Punic Era but it was used as a larbour for commercial
and war vessels till the Ottoman's Era (mid 18thc AD).
The rectangular port where 30 boats can be bollarded has an area
of 8250 m2 and an original water depth of more than 10 ms.
There are still parts of the rampart which once surrounded it, and
there still are the two towers that watch over its entrance.
THE OTTOMAN'S FORTRESS:
It was built in the end of the 16thc
AD by the Turkish Ottoman's when they finally settled in Mahdia.
It was probably built on the remains of Ubeid Allah El Mehdi's castle.
It was a sort of garrison reserved for the guards.
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THE OTTOMAN'S FORTRESS |
El
Hadj Mustafa Mosque:
This Mosque was built in 1772. Hadj
Mustafa had donated all the necessary money to build this mosque.
The monument was enlarged and restored many times especially in
the 20th c.
It is still considered as one of most important religious monuments
existing in Mahdia due to the fact that it includes all the architectural
measures that characterized mosques during the Ottoman's Dynasty.
THE OLD MEDINA:
The old Mahdia is certainly one of
the foundations on which tourism relies and by which it develops
in the region. Besides its folklore, cultural and historical background,
the Medina is a typical gateway to tourist sides which attracts
most of the visitors. It also plays an important economic role through
its commercial activities that contribute in the development of
the town.
The variety of monuments that different civilizations had built
and left in the Medina incited the municipality to do their utmost
to restore them and to take care of them.
The municipality is also protecting the typical traditional design
that characterizes architecture in the Medina. The different people
from different civilizations once lived here, therefore, there's
a variety of architecture that keeps a traditional aspect.
To maintain this image, the municipality is:
• Cooperating with the national institute of culture to agree
on building certifications in the Medina.
• Preparing special specifications to restore the old Medina.
• Focusing on the role that the house laboratory plays in
constructing quality, in reconstructing and in training constructors
who dwell in the town. This is part of the UNESCO international
project whose objective is to restore and protect historical towns.
It also aims at preserving the traditional aspect and avoiding chaotic
building.
• Contributing in keeping a safe environment by cooperating
with the Tourist Sites Protection And Management Fund (TSPMF) in
paving roads and streets, and setting up decorative and public lamp
posts.
• Anyone observing the old Medina will notice the unique way
it is built and traced out. It is a peninsula where the houses are
agglomerated in the middle in about 45 % of the whole area.
The agglomeration is related to the commercial centre, also known
as “Essouk El Arbi”, which lies on almost 35 % of the
area. The remaining 20% is the area of the sea cemetery (called
sea cemetery because it is surrounded by the sea from 3 sides).
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THE OLD MEDINA |
NB: the Whole area of the old Medina is more than 1 km2. Nearly
5500 people live in the agglomeration. Most of them are either fishmen,
farmers or clerks (800 fishermen, 1000 clerks…).
The most important occupation in the town is fishing which is related
to everyone's daily life and is the unique livelihood to a big number
of families.
Regarding the commercial centre, it includes 305 shops, (commercial,
professional, and public services).
Look at the table below for more details:
| Type of activity |
Number |
Rate |
| Commercial shops |
172 |
56% |
| Professional Shops |
84 |
27% |
| Public services |
49 |
17% |
Added to these are 5 institutions
(administrative, educational and economic).
Mainly jewelry making and silk weaving are available in 91 shops,
which represent nearly 30% of all economic activities.
To animate the Medina more and more, and particularly the commercial
centre, the municipality has cooperated with the TSMPF to restore
these centers to urge the shop owners to better their shop outside
looks, to acquaint people with the traditional architectural feature
of the Old Medina: the central Market, the Turkish market for traditional
industries, Dar El Hemma (a museum for traditional clothes), the
Tourism Union and the Craftsman's House.
Among all these buildings, green parks can be seen: El Kadhi Ennoamane
Square, the Ecological Square and Cap Africa are real green places
to visit.
What makes the commercial centre a different place is the big number
of public and tourist services (cafés, monuments….)
Together with the historical sites of the Fatimid Institution (
The great Mosque, Skifa El Kahla…) other religious monuments
such as mosques, Zaouia, Kottab, Qur'an schools and graves of Holy
people exist in this area.
The municipality is giving a special care to restore, protect and
decorate these graves because they are part of the valuable heritage.
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cairo Square |
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