THE GREAT MOSQUE

75 m long and 55 m wide, built by Obeid Allah el Mehdi between 909 and 934, it is the first Fatimid mosque. No minaret, the call of the imam is made from one of the two towers. It was transformed under the Spanish occupation into a sanctuary. The only part dating from the tenth century is its northern part. It was redesigned according to the original plan as part of the major restoration work initiated by President Bourguiba in 1964, on land gained from the sea. The architecture of the galleries is very sober. The old part of the prayer room has been carefully preserved. The plan of the prayer room is influenced by the great mosque of Kairouan. The mihrab, which is shaped like a niche, is carved into the western wall of the hypostyle hall and consists of a half-cylinder and a ribbed half-dome discovered during the 1960 excavations. It represents a legacy of the 12th century during the Norman occupation. Leaving the great mosque, take the path on the right that runs along the sea to the palace of El Kaïem. Built between 916 and 921, it belongs to the Fatimid caliph, the northern part with a very rare mosaic is visible. To the right of this palace, the large building built at the end of the 16th century is none other than the Turkish fortress, El Borj El Kbir. Built by the Ottoman military after the departure of the Spaniards, it allows to protect Mahdia again from foreign invasions. During the summer, it is transformed into a place of celebration by receiving various festivals.