To all my friends all over the world

Done by Malek Saoudi

Nour Maaloul

Fourth holiest city of Islam (after Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem), Kairouan is an important religious pilgrimage site, and for history lovers, one of Tunisia's star tourist attractions. This bustling city is jam-packed with sightseeing opportunities and contains some of the country's best examples of Islamic architecture, from grand mosques and tombs with ornate decoration to the medina back alleys lined with candy-colored houses.

Bir Barouta : A blue door marks the entrance to Bir Barouta, a 17th-century well on the upper floor of the building. According to legend, an underground channel connects the well with the Zamzam spring in Mecca. A camel, attached to the pulley-system, draws up the water from the well by walking around the well. Due to the legend, believers come to drink this holy water. But for many visitors, the sight of the camel, destined to trudge around the well endlessly, is an unhappy spectacle.

Address: Rue des Cuirs, Medina

This is the well of Barrouta

Zaouia of Sidi Abed el Ghariani

This ornate tomb, dedicated to a holy man who lived in Kairouan during the 14th century, is notable for its fine wood, stucco ceiling, and sumptuously decorated inner courtyard. The inner courtyard is a highlight for photographers, completely covered in vibrant, colorful ceramic tiles displaying intricate and beautiful patterns. The tile work has been extremely well preserved, so you can really absorb the dazzlingly beautiful effect of the decoration. Anyone interested in traditional Arabic decoration and artistry should definitely put this building on their things to do list.

Address: Rue Sidi Ghariani, Medina

 Aghlabid Basins

To the north of the medina, beyond the Avenue de la République, are the Aghlabid Basins that supplied water for the Aghlabid palace, which once sat on the site of Kairouan's present-day cemetery. The water was brought by aqueduct from Djebel Cherichera, 36 kilometers away. The smaller basin was a settling tank from which the water flowed to the larger one that had a capacity of 50,000 cubic meters. In the center of the larger pool is the base of a pavilion, where the Aghlabid rulers used to relax. The pools were restored in 1969, and another pool has been discovered just to the west.

Address: Off Avenue de la République

 Mosque of the Three Doors

   

One of the oldest buildings in Kairouan, the Mosque of the Three Doors (Mosquée des Trois Portes or Djemaa Tleta Bibane) was founded in AD 866 by an Andalusian scholar. Its most notable feature is the facade with three doorways, from which it takes its name. There are two friezes of Kufic inscriptions, the lower of which dates to 1440. The minaret also dates from this year. Non-Muslims cannot enter this mosque, but you're mostly here to see the famed front façade anyway.

Address: Rue de la Mosquée, Medina