Things to see and do Sfax

The medina is accessed through Bab Diwan, a large door with three arches. It dates from the very beginning of the 14th century. It is close to the Great Mosque, built in the middle of the 9th century, then modified two centuries later under the Fatimids. At the entrance of the medina, you can buy all kinds of fresh bread. Here, there is no pressure to eat. The main attraction of the medina of Sfax, it is its various souks in the north, in particular the souk el-Djedid, close to our flea markets, and the souk el-Attarine, reserved for perfumes and spices.

Built in 849 by a student of the jurist Sahnoun, the cadi Ali Ben Salem Jebenyani. It was enlarged several times, the last one in 1758 by the Turks. The prayer room is square. The courtyard is framed by 4 galleries. The minaret and the big door of access to the prayer room remind those of the mosque of Kairouan. It is on the cool mats of the prayer room that were once taken the major decisions that marked the history of the city. At independence, the renovation work gave back to the building its style and its simplicity.

It is a beautiful fish market with a very typical atmosphere that really deserves a visit. The Sfaxians come here to get fish for the preparation of the marqa, a dish that is eaten with a barley cake. During Ramadan, salted fish is also sold at the auction, it serves as a complement to the charmoula, a sweet sauce with marmalade raisins and onions, the essential dish to celebrate the Eid. The fish market of Sfax will be an interesting step for your understanding of the Tunisian gastronomy!

Of Andalusian inspiration and articulated around a beautiful courtyard, Dar Jellouli was built in the seventeenth century by the rich family of governors Sfax. They had based their fortune on the armament of ships. A visit to the museum brings to life the past of Sfax, from the necessities of daily life to the aspirations of spiritual life. The first floor presents usual objects of kitchen, toilet, clothing and furniture, the second floor of the costumes and traditional jewels, the second floor of the various Arabic calligraphies.

Its name comes from a Turkish admiral, whose mausoleum is adjacent to the building. The precise history of the mosque is not well documented. In 1893, it was restored to become a mosque-cathedral. The minaret, dating from 1448, is the oldest part. The mosque consists of a prayer hall, a room for the imam and a minaret at the southeast corner. It is surrounded by three patios on the east, north and south sides. The main entrance is on the eastern side and opens onto Sidi Abbas Street. It is distinguished by its typical Ottoman style.

In the southern suburbs (mines are located a little further in the mountains), like port facilities. This Faubourg is also a regular meeting for all the Sfaxiens of the Suburbs who invade a huge market where, in the sand and dust, we buy everything for the year: clothing, crockery, furniture and even household equipment.

The foundation of the Kasbah began under the Aghlabid government in the 9th century. Since its construction, it has served several purposes during the history of the city: control tower for the Aghlabids, seat of the local administration and finally barracks for the armed forces. Today the Kasbah houses a museum that presents a complete panorama of the traditional architecture of the region from a didactic point of view.

The Archaeological Museum of Sfax presents collections of the prehistoric, Roman and Islamic periods of the region. You will find here collections of mosaics, glasses, potteries, coins recovered from the archaeological sites of the area. The objects presented come for the most part from Thyna, the Kerkennah Islands, Acholla and Skhira. The museum is housed in a beautiful house in the Medina, Dar Jellouli, an Andalusian-style palace that was the home of the local caïd before independence. The palace was recently renovated.