After the Arab conquest, Sfax developed as an Islamic trading center serving the Berber nomads. Its ramparts, originally erected in the ninth century, were maintained and improved by the Sicilian Normans in the 12 th century, by the Spanish in 16 th as well as by Barbary Coast pirates in 17 th and 18 th .
Sfax is now Tunisia ‘s second-largest city. The Medina’s ramparts have been carefully restored though the focus here is on exporting phosphates, Olives , olive oil, almonds and canned fish.
Sfax is a fishing port-Mediterranean climate with warm sunny days. It is one of the most inexpensive parts of Tunisia offering beautiful beaches and historical treasures .
Bab Diwan is the main door of the Medina, it’s beginning of the surrounding wall of the Médina on a length of 2 km. Bab Diwan was built by the Aghlabites in the Ixth century, restored and strengthened during these last years.
They are situated in the Medina, between the Big Mosque and Bab Jebli.
The souk el-Jema is specialized in cloths, but also in hangingses, herbs and spices.
At the Blacksmiths souk, you will find many things made by craftsmens. At the outside of Bab Jebli, you will find also too many small and lovely markets.
At the el-attarine souk, you will find the souk of traditional clothes(jebba, chachia…)
Situated in the Gulf of Gabes off the eastern coast of Tunisia, Kerkennah still remains one of the mediterraneans secret gems, made up of two main islands, Chergui(in the north) and Gharbi (in the south), Kerkennah is reached by ferries during the summer season from the port at Sfax. The islands were originally called “Cercina” because the with-godess Circe is supposed to have imprisoned Odysseus, believing him too handsome to let go. Kerkennah is quiet, calm, tranquil and lovely place. “Don’t go there unless you want to fall in love”, but do so, and return year after year. Encircled by Cire’s magic, this place can be hard to leave, and visitors who arrive for days can often stay for weeks.
Built around the year 200, it was the scene of those games and circuses, often cruel and bloody , provided by ancient Rome . Today, the cries of martyrs and beasts have been replaced by the haunting strains of a concerto or the precise beauty of a fugue as world famous orchestras and artists perform at the classical music festival held at the colosseum each summer.
El Jem has opened workshops where artists are re-discovering the art of mosaics and their creations are truly worthy of this site and its history. You can compare these artworks with those in the museum by the colosseum.
