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resort comforts with historic and cultural things to do — combining the best of
both worlds.
It's no wonder this ancient seaside town continues to charm all those who visit.
Discover the best places to visit for sightseeing with our list of the top tourist
attractions in Sousse.
1. Sousse Medina
Sousse's medina
Off the beach, Sousse's main tourist attraction is its medina (old town) district.
Its traditional character has been painstakingly preserved and it was rewarded
with UNESCO World Heritage Site status for being one of the finest surviving
examples of medina architecture in Tunisia.
There were originally six gates, of which two survive: Bab el Khabli on the
south side and Bab el Ghabi on the west.
Wandering around here is like slipping back a few centuries in history. Narrow
lanes are lined with closely packed houses, rising up and leaving just a sliver
in between.
While here, definitely don't miss the La Sofra Cisterns. Entered through an
iron gate, these huge underground cisterns probably date from the Roman
period. They once had a capacity to store 3,000 cubic meters of water.
Northwest of Sousse's Great Mosque, the tower of the Ribat is the city's major
landmark.
This was one of a chain of around 800 fortifications built by the Aghlabid
dynasty along the Tunisian coast. Today, only a few of these buildings survive.
The Ribat, with its bulky, solid walls, was the town's first line of defense
against enemy attack during the Aghlabid era.
The Aghlabid soldiers here were religious warriors who in peacetime devoted
themselves to religious duties. Several scholars have since suggested that
these warrior holy men may have provided a model for the later Christian
knightly orders.
While visiting the complex, make sure to climb up to the top of the watchtower
for great views across Sousse medina below.
Sousse Ribat now ranks with the Ribat of Monastir as one of the best
preserved in Tunisia.
3. Kasbah
Kasbah
The Kasbah fortifications were built and extended around the tower in the 11th
century and took over the military role of Sousse's Ribat.
Its main exhibits herald from the Punic, Roman, and early Christian periods.
Give yourself a good couple of hours for a visit, as there are some exceptional
pieces here.
The mosque originally had two defensive towers, which guarded the harbor in
earlier centuries. The domes of the minarets were later additions.
The arcade in front of the 13-aisled prayer hall was added in 1675. The prayer
hall originally consisted only of three barrel-vaulted bays, but by the 10th
century, it was found to be too small and was extended by the addition of three
higher groin-vaulted bays on the side with the qibla wall.
The beautifully decorated Aghlabid dome, now over the fourth bay, was
originally over the bay in front of the mihrab.
Non-Muslims can enter the courtyard but not the prayer hall. The prayer hall
doors, though, are usually open, so you can peek inside.
6. Souk District
Souk District
If you're in the mood for a spot of shopping and don't mind some fun-filled
haggling, the medina's souk district is the place to go.
The full gamut of Tunisian craftwork is on offer in the main souk streets, from
colorful pottery to silver jewelry. As Sousse is Tunisia's major tourism center,
there's also plenty of cheap and cheerful souvenirs for sale.
Seek out the skinny side alleyways off the main thoroughfares to find the
artisan workshops of metalworkers and woodworkers away from the stalls.
This area is great for a stroll and poke around after a day on the beach while
searching for your souvenirs to take back home.
7. Zaouia Zakkak
Zaouia Zakkak
As well as the complex's beautiful minaret, with its tile detailing, another
notable feature is the arcading of the inner courtyard, with the antique columns
within the arcades recycled from older sites.
Non-Muslims cannot enter the interior but can admire the minaret from
outside.
8. Catacombs
Catacombs
Of the four main shafts, three have been excavated. Finds from the site are
in Sousse Archaeological Museum.
Unfortunately, the catacombs have been closed for the past couple of years,
so check for the latest information with your hotel before making the journey
out here.
When open again, the three main sections to explore are the Catacombs of
the Good Shepherd (Catacombes du Bon Pasteur, 1.6 kilometers long, 6,000
tombs, late 3rd century), Hermes (2,500 tombs, 3rd century),
and Severus (5,000 tombs, early 4th century).
9. Port el Kantaoui
Port el Kantaoui
If you're here for the beach, this will be your first call. This purpose-built resort
complex, about six kilometers north of Sousse, is where many visitors stay on
sun-and-sea holidays.
The resort is centered round a large marina with more than 300 moorings. It
contains several luxury hotels and blocks of holiday apartments along the
beachfront, as well as restaurants, cafés, a shopping center, and a wide range
of sports facilities.
For those who want to shop with the locals rather than in the tourist stores of
the medina's souk, head to the Sunday Market, which is held near the
entrance to the Catacombs of the Good Shepherd.
Be aware, this is a proper local market, so the more squeamish may struggle
with a visit here, particularly around the livestock stalls.
11. Takrouna
Takrouna
With its rather dramatic setting atop a fossilized rock hill and completely
surrounded by flat countryside, the old Berber village of Takrouna (six
kilometers west of Enfidha) holds on to a disappearing way of life.
Only six Berber families still occupy the village, and visitors can enter some of
the dwellings here to get a close-up look at traditional Berber architecture and
interiors.
In the center of the village is a small mosque and the tomb of local holy man
Sidi Abd el Kader.
12. Hergla
Building in Hergla
The little town of Hergla, 35 kilometers north of Sousse, lies on a rocky stretch
of coast speckled by sandy coves. It occupies the site of ancient Roman
Horraca Caelia, which during the 2nd century AD lay directly on the boundary
between the provinces of Byzacena and Zeugitana.
Since this original settlement was completely destroyed during Arab invasions,
there is nothing of interest from this period left to see.
History of Sousse
Sousse has been settled since at least the 9th century BC, when it was the
site of an important Phoenician trading post.
It came under the influence of Carthage during the 6th century BC, and during
the Second Punic War, this was Hannibal's base in his campaign against
Scipio's Roman forces.
In the Third Punic War, the town, now known as Hadrumetum, went over to
the Roman side and was rewarded with the grant of important privileges.
These were lost, however, when Hadrumetum took Pompey's side in his
conflict with Caesar.
Thanks to its strategic situation and its extensive olive groves, it soon
recovered but it suffered a further setback after taking part in the Gordian
rising in AD 238.
In the reign of Diocletian (AD 284-305), the town rose to some importance,
and in Byzantine times became capital of the province of Byzacena.
Later, it was taken by the Vandals and renamed Hunericopolis, then recovered
by the Byzantines and given the new name of Justinianopolis.
Uqba ibn Nafi's Arab forces conquered the town towards the end of the 7th
century, but the settlement had put up a fierce resistance and was totally
destroyed. As a result, Sousse has few remains of Roman buildings apart from
the catacombs.
Two hundred years later, under the Aghlabids, a new town was founded with
the name of Susa to serve as the port for their inland capital of Kairouan. This
was the period when the Ribat, the Great Mosque, the Kasbah and the town
walls were built.