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Mahdia is a Tunisian coastal town 50 km south of Monastir and 200 km south
of the capital Tunis. It is a provincial centre north of Sfax, and is important for
its fish-processing industry and weaving, as well as being the capital of the
Mahdia Governorate.
A settlement has existed here as far back as the Phoenicians and Romans, but this was destroyed during the Arab conquest of North Africa.
Mahdia - Not to be missed!
Modern Mahdia was founded by the Fatimids in 921, and made the capital of what was then Ifriqiya, because of its proximity to the sea, and the promontory on which an important military settlement had been since the time of the Phoenicians.
In 1087 the town was attacked by raiding ships from Genoa and Pisa who burned the Muslim fleet in the harbour. The Zirid dynasty had its residence here in the 11th century, but this was brought to an end by the Norman conquest of the city in 1148.
So those who expect night clubs and miles of shops selling tourist trinkets will be sadly disappointed. However, in recent years there has been a few fast food pizza restaurants appearing, producing excellent food at absurdly cheap prices. There are also several excellent fish restaurants alongside the port serving fish caught a few hours earlier and you can't get fresher than that!
It is said that 70% of the fish eaten in Tunisia is caught in Mahdia. For those more intrepid travellers, there are small, basic, local restaurants selling superb dishes of local food for a couple of dinars - highly recommended!
Carrying on to the end of the Souk, you will see the huge, ancient Great Mosque, which is said to be a faithful reconstruction of the original 9th century layout. Behind that is the imposing "Borj el-Kebir"which literally means Big Fortress. Dating back to 1595, this is a truly impressive fortification, and the views from the top, of the town, port and sea must not be missed!
The weekly market is held on Friday and is a must for everyone, with hundreds of stalls selling everything from beds to bracelets, chicken to chocolate, spices to saucepans, etc. Just to the side of this is a large, indoor market selling excellent fish, fruits, herbs and vegetables. Also on Friday in the Skifa el-Kahla you will find a huge array of beautiful wedding dresses and gold being sold. You can see many of the traditional, wedding clothes being woven in the workshops in the nearby medina.
With one exception, all of the tourist hotels and complexes are situated about 6 kms to the north of the town centre, where there is a small centre including cafes, a bank with ATM, a supermarket, taxiphones and several gift shops. You can walk along the beautiful beach to the town centre or get one of the numerous taxis for a few dinars. Opposite the hotels is the metro station where frequent trains run both south to Mahdia town and north to Monastir (1 hour journey) or Sousse (1 hour 30 minutes). A daily train also goes to Tunis early every morning. For those preferring bus travel, there is an hourly bus to Sousse where you can get all the connections to the top, tourist sites of Tunisia.
Acknowlegements to and photos from: nomarmiteintunisia.co.uk
The role of the capital was taken over by Tunis in the 13th century during the Hafsid Dynasty. Some buildings still exist from the 10th and 11th centuries, such as the Great Mosque and the Casbah, and along with the ancient ruins along the coastal area, these have helped make the city an important tourist attraction.
Today, Mahdia is a fairly large, traditional, fishing town, largely remaining unspoilt by the influx of tourism.
Most of the places of interest will be found to the north of the town, after walking through the incredible “black passage”, the 16th century tunnel with 10 foot thick walls called Skifa el-Kahla. This dates back to the early fortess days of the town, but had to be rebuilt after being blown up by the Spanish in 1554.
Here you will find the small, tourist souk with colourful shops, inviting you to bargain for quality souvenirs. You will also find the Place du Caire coffee bar - a delightfully, quiet oasis of calm amid all hustle and bustle.
Carry on walking and you will arrive at the famous Sidi Salam - a lovely restaurant/coffee bar literally perched on the cliff edge, where you can sit and enjoy your coffee whilst watching the fishing boats return to the port. Walking beyond the Sidi Salam and you will arrive at the beautiful sailor's cemetery behind which is the old working lighthouse. This extensive cemetery covers large parts of the eastern end of the peninsula from the Borj el-Kebir to the lighthouse, and is laid out so that every grave has a view of the sea, reflecting Mahdia's long association with fishing, sailors and piracy.
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