Built in 1240 by the Hafsid sovereign Abu Zakariya Yahya, the souk El Attarine or souk of perfumers is the oldest souk of Tunis.[2] It is located just behind the Al-Zaytuna Mosque.[2] When this souk was built, nobles and business owners were the only ones with the right to do this job. Therefore, it was considered one of the finest. Fragrances compounds of rare and valuable species were sold, there was also incense from India and Yemen, as well as some cosmetics.
This souk has a square form, with a wooden platform in the middle which was the place where slaves were presented and waited for the outcome of the sale. Potential buyers were sitting on benches around the souk and participated in the auction. The white slaves, considered the rarest and most valuable, were not sold in the souk but in more remote locations because the sale concerned only wealthy potential buyers. The abolition of slavery in Tunisia was declared by Ahmad I ibn Mustafa in 1846 and caused the transformation of the souk into souk of jewelers specializing in silverware.
Souk El Bey
View of souk El Bey
The souk El Bey was founded by Hammuda ibn Ali. It is located between the Kasbah of Tunis and the souk El Berka. The souk is now specializing in the sale of precious metals.
Souk El Blaghgia
Different models of balghas in the souk
The souk El Blaghgia was founded by Abu Zakariya Yahya in the early 18th century. It is located between souk El Attarine and the Kasbah Street.[3] This souk is specialized in the sale of balghas, a shoe made from leather.
Souk El Blat
Metal plate at the entrance of souk El Blat
The souk El Blat specializes in the sale of medicinal plants.[4] The number of sellers decreased significantly with the growth of modern medicine.[5]
The souk El Leffa, also called Souk of Djerbians, is known for the sale of wool products through merchants from the island of Djerba. Artisans also make the traditional sefseri (a traditional outfit for women).[8]
Souk El Nissa
El Nissa means Women in Arabic. This souk is located at the south of Al-Zaytuna Mosque, near the souk of wool. Women used to come to buy and sell goods.
Souk El Trouk
View of souk El Trouk in 1899
The name of the souk El Trouk is much debated, but there is an agreement that the word comes from tourk (Turkish) in Arabic with trouk, the word for Antiquities (tirka).
This souk was built in 1620 by Yusuf Dey. It is located between the Al-Zaytuna Mosque and the centers of Ottoman power, the Kasbah and Dar El Bey. It was dedicated to Turkish customers and craftsmen; Turkish craftsmen were replaced gradually by Jewish craftsmen.
This souk is now the place where items like flea markets and antiques are sold.
Souk En Nhas
Some products of souk En Nhas
Built under the Hafsid dynasty, the souk En Nhas or souk of copper is specialized in the sale of copper utensils. It is located between the souk El Grana and the Kasbah Street.
Souk Es Sabbaghine
Metal plaque showing the name of the souk
The souk Es Sabbaghine, or souk of Dyers, is located on the outskirts of the medina, far away from the Al-Zaytuna Mosque because dyeing is considered a polluting activity. The denomination Es Sabbaghine or Dyers originates from the dyeing of wool, cotton and silk.[9]
Today, the souk sells a variety of products, especially ready-to-wear clothes and shoes, but also fish and meat.
Souk Es Sarragine
Souk Es Sarragine or Souk Es Sekajine is situated west of Al-Zaytuna Mosque and east of Bab Menara gate. It is specialized in leather goods, saddles, and horse harnesses.
Tunis is the capital and largest city of Tunisia. The greater metropolitan area of Tunis, often referred to as "Grand Tunis", has about 2,700,000 inhabitants. As of 2020, it is the fourth-largest city in the Maghreb region and the sixteenth-largest in the Arab world.
The Medina of Tunis is the medina quarter of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Kasbah Mosque is a mosque in Tunis, Tunisia. It is a listed as a Historical Monument.
Souk El Berka is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis. The market traders specialize in the jewellery trade.
Souk Ech-Chaouachine is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis. Divided into three parts, it is specialized in chachia trading.
Souk En Nhas is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis. It is specialised in selling copper utensils.
Souk Es Sabbaghine is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis.
Souk El Kmach or the fabrics market is one of the most important souks of the medina of Tunis. It is the place where fabrics and tissues are sold, whether they are made in Tunisia or luxury products especially imported like silk or linen.
Souk El Attarine, or souk of spice traders, is the name by which most spice markets are referred to in Arab countries in the Middle East. Old cities were often divided into segments based on what was sold - meat, spices, fabrics and so on - and attarine, which means spice traders in Arabic, refers to the spice market.
Souk El Leffa, also called Souk of Djerbians, is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis. It is called as such because it was mainly occupied by merchants from the Tunisian island of Djerba.
Souk El Kebabjia is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis. It is specialized in the trading of traditional clothing accessories. Its craftsmen are specialized in kbaïeb, plural kobba.
Madrasa Asfouria is one of the madrasahs of the medina of Tunis, which was constructed during the Hafsid era.
Madrasa Hamzia is one of the madrasahs of the medina of Tunis. It was built in the 20th century by a rich bourgeois in order to host the University of Ez-Zitouna students coming from Mahdia, Tunisia.
Souk El Blat is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis, specialized in medicinal plants.
Souk El Koutbiya is one of the souks in the medina of Tunis. It is specialized in the selling of books.
El Hentati Mosque ' is a small mosque in the west of the medina of Tunis, in souk El Leffa.
Souk El Blaghgia is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis.
Souk El Ghrabliyya is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis.
Souk El Ouzar is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis, specialized in selling blankets.
Souk El Sagha is one of the souks in the medina of Tunis. It is specialized in the selling of gold products.
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