Medina- This is another historical attraction of Hammamet, which is not missed by any tourist. The history of the Hammamet medina begins, in fact, in the 13th century, when the walls were first erected, but its final formation was completed only in the 15th century.
What is medina
Medina in North African countries is called the old part some ancient city. The medina is usually surrounded by a wall, and often by a moat; the streets are winding, and the houses are low-rise and fairly traditional. Most of the medinas are now pedestrian tourist areas.
Medina of Hammamet
Medina of Hammamet- it is, in fact, just an old city, enclosed by walls. What is interesting here is that most of the houses are painted white, and the windows and doors are sky blue and more beautiful painting doors, the richer the family living inside.
Within the medina, there is the Sidi-Abdul-Kader-al-Gelani mosque, in which children study the Koran, as well as a private museum of the art and traditions of Hammamet. A hundred meters to the north (opposite the wide beach) is tourist centre, where you can get a lot of information about both local attractions and surrounding cities.
Almost the entire medina now consists of small shops selling carpets, clothes, dishes, handicrafts, etc. - that is, everything that tourists willingly purchase. There are also cafes and restaurants for every taste and budget, as well as several small hotels. In order to see more or less authentic houses of local residents, it is worth visiting the southern part of this old city.
Useful information about the old medina in Hammamet, Tunisia
Location:
The most "sharp" place (the end protruding into the sea) of the Cap-Bon peninsula. The very south of old Hammamet.
Coordinates:
36.394005,10.613168 (paste these coordinates into the Google maps search bar and you will see the real position of the old medina)
GPS: 36°23’38.42″N, 10°36’47.40″E
How to get there:
You can get there on foot from the Hammamet railway station - you need to walk from the station along Avenue Habib Bourbuiba in a straight line up to the medina (about 1.5 km).
By taxi from Yasmine.
Telephone:
Fax machine:
Website:
Email:
Working hours:
around the clock
Entrance ticket price:
For free
Reviews:
The medina is certainly beautiful - many old buildings, carved blue doors, an ancient wall. However, merchants inside are very aggressive and use every opportunity to lure money or promote it to buy something that is cheaper elsewhere.
A sacred place for every Muslim, the city is located in the west of Saudi Arabia near Jeddah, 880 km from the capital of Arabia - Riyadh. The city is also known as Al-Balad Al-Haram (Holy City).
How to get to Mecca?
get to Mecca from Moscow you can fly by plane, flying with a transfer to Medina for about 16 thousand rubles, and from there by bus 5 hours to Mecca itself.
History of Mecca
According to legend, around 570 AD. Prophet Muhammad, the founder of the Islamic religion, was born in Mecca. Millions of Muslims flock here to perform the Hajj (a religious rite that, according to the covenant, every devout Muslim must perform once in a lifetime). In the suras of the Koran it is commanded that the entrance to Mecca for a "non-Muslim" should be closed.
Mecca, including its environs, is considered sacred land, but which is strictly prohibited violence, the killing of all living things (the exception is the killing of livestock for food), deforestation.
The first records of this place were found in the writings of Ptolemy, however, he named the city Makoraba. Already in the 7th century, the first sermon of the Prophet Allah Muhammad was heard here.
Mecca today is modern city with an updated infrastructure, transport interchange, capable of carrying a huge flow of pilgrims from all over the world in the twelfth month of the Muslim calendar. Conditions for comfortable accommodation of people are created here. Recently, the first subway in Saudi Arabia was opened in Mecca to travel around the shrines.
The main shrine - the Al-Masjid Al-Haram Mosque - is located exactly in the center of the metropolis and looks like a large square area (165x111 m), separated from the city by high walls. The mosque can simultaneously accommodate 70 thousand people. White-stone minarets rise all around.
In the center of the square is the Kaaba - the sanctuary of the Islamic world. The Kaaba is a small building in human height, its faces are clearly located in the directions of the cardinal points. The Kaaba has a door cast in pure gold (286 kg). A stone is built into one of the faces - according to legend, it absorbs the sins of those who pray, in connection with which, it became black. According to some scientists, this is a meteorite. According to the religious version, the angel Jabrail (Gabriel) brought this stone to Adam.
Abraj Al Beit
The world's tallest tower complex, Abraj Al-Beit, leaves an indelible impression, second only to the Burj Khalifa in the UAE. The towers located here are named after the main shrines of Islam. On the territory there is the highest hotel in the world, capable of receiving 100,000 pilgrims at once, as well as a five-story shopping center. It is worth noting that one of the towers houses the world's largest clock, the dial of which is visible from a distance of 17 km.
Catering outlets are National dishes many nationalities, there are also many fast foods. Mostly high-quality service is distinguished by establishments located in shopping centers and hotels.
Visiting Mecca is an obligatory duty of a Muslim, prescribed by his religion. Modern pilgrimage is carried out with maximum comfort and convenience.
Around the medina
The main attraction is the sculptural composition “Mermaids with Jasmine Flowers”, which is located on the embankment. Mermaids symbolize the sea, jasmine is the national flower of Tunisia, and ceramic pots near the pedestal symbolize Tunisian pottery. Collected all the main symbols of the country.
This is " business card” of the city of Hammamet. Most tourists consider it their duty to take pictures with these sculptures, see them in the photo on the left.
In 2016, they looked like they made me want to go to the nearest hardware store, buy some blue paint and a brush, and paint them. We hope that they will still be painted for your visit to Hammamet.
If you go from the sea, then go to a small square with a miniature of the Eiffel Tower. To be honest, it barely resembles the original. Next, you will see the monument “Martyrs in the struggle for the Independence of Tunisia”.
Near the composition with mermaids there is a large cafe called Sidi Bouhdid, which is considered legendary, all guidebooks write about it. In fact, there is nothing special about this cafe, except for high prices and a weak assortment.
The first thing to see is the walls of the medina. The city on this site is mentioned in the sources of the 10th century, but then the walls were more modest and the space inside the walls is much smaller. These walls were built in the 15th century, see a small gallery below.
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To sea water did not wash away the walls during storms, breakwaters were organized from the south of the medina. The spectacle of waves rolling on the breakwaters is mesmerizing. See the mini photo gallery below.
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Near the sculptures of mermaids you will see the main entrance, it is called “Bab Bhar”. Look to the north, from here the two main streets of the city, the so-called “Axis of Hammamet”, begin. A little to the left goes Avenue Habib Bourguiba, to the right goes Avenue of the Republic. If you want to walk around the city, it is better to go along one of these streets, there are many shops and cafes along them. A little further down the street you will see Generale Magazin - the only chain of stores selling .
Medina
It is small - 200 by 150 meters. Hammamet has never been a major port or an important center for crafts or Agriculture, the medina is modest in size. The city became famous only in the 20th century as a resort.
The German avant-garde artist Paul Klee painted here in 1918 his famous work “Hammamet with its Mosque”. Paul liked to come to Hammamet and was a frequent visitor. Look at the painting on the right and try to recognize the medina of Hammamet in it.
The walls were tested by battle more than once, the city constantly suffered from raids by pirates and fleets of European powers.
In 1601, the Spanish successfully sacked Hammamet, taking over 700 people as slaves. In 1605, their next attempt ended in a fiasco. This time the Spaniards climbed the walls and even opened the gates, but the bugle suddenly sounded to retreat. The chaotic retreat of the Spaniards lost many people. We learn these stories about the wars in Tunisia not from Arab sources, but from the memoirs of the Spanish sailor Alonso de Contreras.
The streets inside the medina are organized chaotically, there is a whole labyrinth of passages in which you can easily get lost. In the square next to the miniature of the Eiffel Tower, find the information stand, which has a map of the Medina.
Despite the narrowness of the streets, Tunisians drive around the medina on scooters. We urge tourists to be careful, look around.
In the medina, look at the houses, white walls and blue doors - elements of the traditional style of houses in Tunisia. Blue windows like, beautifully chased grilles, ornaments on the walls and doors.
Electric bells are still not used on doors, and door knockers are preferred. Please note that there are two or three knockers on each door, this is not an accident. Men knock on the right, women knock on the left, and the bottom (if any) is for children. The sound of each hammer is different and the owner knows who came to him - a man, a woman or a child.
See the gallery of photos from the medina of Hammamet below:
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There are dozens of souvenir shops in the medina, but we do not recommend buying something here. Traders use a common set of tricks to “fool” tourists, which we wrote about in detail in the article “”, here are fake chefs from your hotel, and the phrases “how much does it cost in Russia?” or “what is it called in Russian?”, and the initial overpricing by several times. There are several Fix Price shops, but the prices are higher than the average for Hammamet.
The assortment is standard - magnets, plates, leather and olive wood products, cheap jewelry, oil, dates and clothes imitating traditional ones. Almost the entire range is “made in China”, you will not find something exclusive in Medina stores.
Any traveler will find something to see and where to go in Hammamet. The city has both ancient monuments of culture and architecture, as well as entertainment facilities of modern tourist infrastructure. You can take a sightseeing tour of the old part of Hammamet by riding in an open tourist trailer.
In the center of the resort, on a small peninsula, there is a place where tourists who want to feel the traditional spirit of Tunisia first of all want to get - medina (from Arabic. "City"). This is an old city surrounded by fortified walls. And, although the size of the medina is small, here you can wander for hours. Narrow streets among white houses with blue carved shutters and gates, ivy winding along the walls, sometimes meeting fountains and hamams - all this immerses you in the atmosphere of the Eastern world.
Now the medina of Hammamet is a large and colorful market. There are shops with fixed prices and small shops, authentic cafes and hookahs, as well as several small hotels.
In the very center of the medina rises the Great Mosque, not far from it is the signal tower of the Kasbah, and within it is the museum of traditions and art of Hammamet.
In the tourist area of the city - Yasmina - there is also a medina, which, in fact, is a large shopping center where you can not only buy souvenirs, but also have a bite to eat in one of the many restaurants.
The mosque with a four-sided minaret, built in the 15th century, is the pride of the inhabitants of Hammamet. The material of the walls was taken from the ancient Roman city of Pupput, destroyed by the pirates of Catalonia.
You can admire the outlandish architecture in the Moorish-Turkish style only from the outside, because the Great Mosque is active, and non-Christians are not allowed to enter there. However, you can feel the majestic spirit of antiquity from afar, while listening to the singing of the mullah.
Nearly 100 years ago in Hammamet the Romanian millionaire and architect Georg Sebastian arrived. He was so struck by the beauty surrounding nature that he decided to build a villa here for himself. The snow-white building of the villa with a piano in the living room, terraces and a swimming pool, inside and out, seems to take visitors into the atmosphere of the 20-30s of the twentieth century. At one time Erwin Rommel, Winston Churchill, Gustave Flaubert and Sophia Loren stayed here.
On the vast territory of the villa there is a small mosque, an amphitheater, where sometimes musical and theatrical performances take place. Most of all, George Sebastian Villa is remembered for its botanical garden - 300 species of plants grow on an area of almost 6 hectares - cypresses, bamboo, fruit trees, cacti and flowering shrubs. On a hot day, it is nice to wander along the shaded paths of the park, and if you wish, you can also drink traditional Tunisian mint tea on the terrace of the villa.
Entrance ticket price - 5 dinars, Sebastian Villa opening hours - daily from 8.00 to 18.00, break from 13.00 to 14.00.
In Yasmine Hammamet, not far from the El Mourad and Yasmin Beach hotels, there is an amusement park for adults and children - Carthage Land. On its territory there is everything necessary for families to plunge into the atmosphere of celebration and fun for the whole day:
18 attractions (carousels, trampoline, labyrinth, cars, water slide, etc.);
a mini-zoo where you can see ostriches, peacocks, turtles, ponies, squirrels, monkeys;
a small water park (water slides, a water town, swimming pools for adults and children, a pool with artificial waves);
indoor playground for children under 12 with tunnels, slides and houses. Website - www.carthageland.com
One of the most popular activities is Medina voyage (Journey to Medina). It is located outside the amusement park, so you can buy this tour for 12 dinars without spending money on buying a complex ticket.
On a boat on an artificial river, tourists visit the pirates' lair, then they are invited to watch a 5D film that tells about the history of Tunisia in Arabic, French, English, German or Italian. During the tour, visitors can look into the Palace of the Thousand and One Nights and get acquainted with the exhibits of the museum, which is dedicated to the religion and culture of Tunisia (ancient tombstones and manuscripts, dishes, religious objects, etc.)
Opening hours of Carthage Land depend on the season, in summer the park is open from 9.30 to 19.00.
The price of an entrance ticket only to the amusement park is 10-15 dinars, a complex ticket to the water park and attractions is 25 dinars, a golden pass, which includes attractions, a water park, Medina voyage, a playground and a 7D cinema - 33 dinars per person.
Most of the attractions are designed for children over 110 centimeters, so families with children over five years of age will be most interested in Carthageland.
The largest thalassotherapy center in the country "Bio Azur Thalasso" was opened in 1996, a thorough renovation was carried out in 2010. Perfect cleanliness reigns here, the level of service and services provided correspond to the European level. Clients are invited to take advantage of various comprehensive programs:
Course for weight loss;
anti-stress course;
postpartum course;
antirheumatic course, etc.
57 treatment rooms allow you to receive 200-250 clients per day.
In addition to program courses, you can use individual procedures:
Mud and algae wraps;
massage;
inhalation;
sharko shower;
gymnastics and aqua gymnastics;
hot tubs;
a swimming pool with sea water heated to 31 degrees with a hydromassage effect, etc.
Also on the territory of the complex there is a beauty salon "Nesri", in which experienced specialists offer various services for skin, hair, face and body care.
"Bio Azur Thalasso" is open daily from 9.00 to 18.00, and the cost of services depends on the chosen procedures, and usually ranges from $ 500-1500 per course.
Where else can you go in Hammamet?
Diving center Yasmine Dive Center;
zoo "Friguia park", in which 412 animals live and a dolphinarium operates;
golf clubs "Golf Yasmine" and "Citrus Golf Course";
citadel Kasbah of Hammamet;
the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Pupput, etc.
Hammamet Restaurants
Hammamet will pleasantly surprise travelers with a variety of cafes and restaurants of various culinary trends.
One of the city's most popular restaurants, Le Barberousse offers traditional Tunisian cuisine and seafood dishes. You should definitely try juicy prawns with pineapple or couscous with lamb. Cozy Le Barberousse is located on the wall of the Kasbah in the Old Medina. Lunch for two will cost 50-80 dinars.
Near the gates of the Old Medina, leading to the sea, there is a wonderful cafe Sidi Bouhdid, where both locals and visitors like to sit. A breathtaking view of the sea and the blue and white city plunges you into bliss and allows you to relax with a cup of aromatic coffee and a hookah. Here you can easily grab snacks and ice cream, while free high-speed WiFi is available. The average bill in a restaurant is 5-10 dinars for two.
Adults and little ones with a sweet tooth love to visit the Canari ice cream parlor, which is located near the medina. Sitting on spacious terraces overlooking the surroundings, visitors eat delicious ice cream, signature fruit desserts, drink mint tea or freshly squeezed juice. Prices here are affordable - within 20-40 dinars for two.
Pomodoro
In the heart of Hammamet is one of the oldest restaurants in the resort - Pomodoro. European cuisine, with some elements of national flavor. Most often, they order seafood and fish dishes, spicy lamb meat sausages, “meshuya” salad, etc. here. Dinner together with a bottle of rose wine and seafood dishes will cost 40-60 dinars.
In the nightclubs of Hammamet you can meet young people from all over the world, but most of all here is the European public. Therefore, for those who are tired of the Russian-speaking contingent, Hammamet discos will be the best choice.
The best resort clubs are located on Moncef Bay Avenue:
The most popular nightclub in the city, Calypso, was opened back in 1968, and over time has gained a reputation as the best. Well-known local and world DJs play here, always high-quality sound and bright thematic performances every week;
the pretentious club "Oasis" is notable not only for good dance and electronic music, but also for its pleasant interior and excellent bar;
the cramped but very cheerful "Havana Club" is considered the most incendiary in Hammamet, and Latin American parties make you feel like a real Cuban. Nearby is the El Pacha club, which plays mostly European music.
Hotels in Hammamet
Hotels with thalassotherapy
Hammamet is considered to be the center of thalassotherapy in Tunisia. Many European tourists come here as in a sanatorium - for a vacation combined with treatment. This is greatly facilitated by hotels on the territory of which thalasso centers operate:
Hasstrubal Thalassa 5* De Luxe is a chic Kempinski hotel for a relaxing holiday. Located on the first line from the beach, it has a large green area, several swimming pools (with hydromassage, sea water), a huge gym and one of the best SPA centers in the country. A double suite will cost $250-300 per day;
The hotel complex, consisting of three hotels - Royal Azur Thalasso Golf 5 *, Sol Azur Beach Congress 4 *, Bel Azur Thalassa 3 * - is located on a green area of 18 hectares. Bright elegant rooms, developed infrastructure, excellent food and pleasant service perfectly complement the thalasso-rest of guests. The highlight of the complex is the large and well-equipped thalassotherapy center Bio Azur. Accommodation price - from $100-150 per room per night, depending on the hotel and room type;
Built in a Mediterranean style, the Nahrawess 4 * hotel is great for beach holiday. The territory of the hotel is vast, there are several swimming pools, a small water park, squash courts, several bars and restaurants, as well as night club. The hotel became famous for its thalassotherapy center - the most modern in the city, opened in 2002. The cost of a double room - from $ 60 per night.
Youth hotels
Hammamet, like Sousse, is considered a suitable resort for students and party-goers. Youth hotels are located either near large nightclubs, or have good bars and discos on their territory:
Budget hotel Samira Club 3 * is notable for its animation team - 15-20 people. From morning until evening, guests are entertained, involved in various games and show shows for both adults and children. Vacationers are mostly Germans and French, there are few Russian-speaking tourists. A large area of the hotel is immersed in greenery and flowers, and bars and restaurants offer delicious, high-quality food and an unlimited number of drinks. The price of accommodation in a double room - from $ 40 per day;
Completely renovated in 2015, Dessole Le Hammamet Resort 4 * will appeal to those tourists who prefer Russian-speaking staff. Here, every representative of the hotel speaks Russian to some extent, and the rest are mostly our compatriots. The hotel has active animation, many bars and restaurants, and in the evenings the hotel nightclub Bleu Disco Bar opens its doors. The cost of living - from $ 30-40 per day for two;
located in the resort area of Yasmine Medina Solaria & Thalasso 5 * offers a good beach holiday and quality service. The animation team will not let you get bored throughout the day - games, competitions, and in the evenings - a colorful show. Near the hotel there are many shops, cafes, and right in front of the hotel there is a nightclub. Room price in Medina Solaria & Thalasso 5 * - from $ 70 for two per night.
Apartments in Hammamet
Travelers accustomed to a more independent and isolated holiday often prefer to stay in apartments, and Hammamet can offer such accommodation:
The small hotel Villamar Residence De Charme 4 * offers tourists large rooms with an equipped kitchen and a terrace. The compact area contains a swimming pool, a restaurant, a lush garden and parking. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas, and the connection speed is quite high. The cost of living - from $ 90 per day for a double room.
In the heart of Yasmine Hammamet, the Diar Lembdina 5 * apart-hotel awaits its guests. Rest in the hotel involves a combination of city and beach holidays, and cozy rooms with a kitchen are perfect for those who prefer not to depend on the schedule of food establishments. On the territory of Diar Lembdina 5 * there is a theme park, restaurants and cafes, a SPA-salon, a swimming pool and a nightclub. Walk 5-10 minutes to the beach through two roads with light traffic. A day in a hotel will cost $60-100 for two.
For large families or lovers of a secluded holiday in the city, villas with a swimming pool are offered for rent, fully equipped with the necessary furniture and appliances. Most often, such housing is located near the beach, and the cost varies between $ 300-1000 per week.
Shopping in Hammamet is made either in local shops and stores, or in centers with fixed prices.
In small shops, many of which are located in the medina area, there is an unspoken rule - bargain, negotiate, bring down the price. Some find it a kind of pleasure, and can spend more than one hour buying several souvenirs. What is usually brought from Hammamet:
Products from ceramics and blown glass;
silver jewelry in the style of Berber times;
cosmetics made from clay, oils, argan;
leather bags and shoes;
handmade silk carpets;
all kinds of herbs and spices.
Shopping centers offer goods at fixed prices, which allows you to buy souvenirs quickly and relatively inexpensively.
For example, in a large Costa Mall store, you can buy various souvenirs, high-quality clothes, finest jewelry, food, face and body care products. The shopping center has security, which allows you to feel safe, there is an ATM.
In Tunisia, as in any Muslim country, alcohol is not sold on every corner. If guests of Hammamet have a need to purchase alcoholic beverages, they should go to the Blue Sky store or the Le General supermarket.
