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Home > Tunisia Guide > Mahdia

Mahdia

Lying less than an hour south of Sousse, Mahdia is both a modern tourist resort with some of Tunisia’s most beautiful beaches, and a particularly active fishing harbour.  Mahdia was also important historically, originally to the Phoenicians and Romans and later to the Fatimids, and has several monuments recalling its prestigious past. 
Its old Medina is home to Tunisia’s finest lace weavers and is an ideal setting for a relaxing stroll.  The Skifa el Kahla is a small fort originally rebuilt in the 16th century, now acting as a gateway separating the modern town from the peninsula. The highest terrace offers a magnificent panorama of the whole town, from harbour to coast.   

What to see

The Old Medina

The ancient Medina, home to Tunisia’s finest lace weavers, is an ideal place for a relaxing stroll.  The Skifa el Kahla (black gate) is a small fort originally rebuilt in the 16th century, now acting as a gateway separating the modern town from the peninsula.  

Sailor's Cemetry

A maritime cemetery on the tip of the peninsula with graves laid out so that they all have sea views. The port is home to a large fleet of lamplight fishing trawlers and boats and is very lively in the summer when the night fishing season for sardines starts.

The Archeological Museum

Situated in the entrance of the old city, the museum seeks to be both a reflection of the history of the country, to which the city contributed considerably, and more specifically of Mahdia itself. It displays objects dating back to Libyco-Punic and Roman-African antiquity and to the Byzantine and Islamic period.


Nearby

El Jem (42 Kms)

This unique Roman site is a large coliseum built by the Emperor Gordian around 230 AD. The amphitheatre and its underground chambers houses the gladiators and the wild animals.The museum with its collection of some of the best mosaics in Tunisia is also worth visiting.

Monastir (45 Kms)

A largely purpose-built tourist town of pristine streets and lavish landscaping. It has an attractive marina and an old fishing port. Its heart, the Medina is a fascinating place to wander and drink in the atmosphere.

Sousse (65 Kms)

A modern, thriving commercial port and holiday resort which stills retains its impressive history. The magnificent Medina, containing the Ribat, the Great Mosque and a fascinating museum is witness to the town’s historical importance.

Where to stay