Medina of Sousse, Tunisia

Medina of Sousse
The Medina, inside
Location	Sousse, Governorate of Sousse, Tunisia
Coordinates	35°49′40″N 10°38′19″E / 35.82778°N 10.63861°E / 35.82778; 10.63861Coordinates: 35°49′40″N 10°38′19″E / 35.82778°N 10.63861°E / 35.82778; 10.63861
Built	Early centuries of Islam
Architectural style(s)	Islamic
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Medina of Sousse
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii, iv, v
Designated	1988 (12th session)
Reference no.	[1]
Country	Tunisia
Region	Arab States
Extensions	2008
Location of the Medina

The Medina of Sousse is a Medina quarter in Sousse, Governorate of Sousse, Tunisia. Designated by the UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 1988, it is a typical example of the architecture of the early centuries of Islam in Maghreb. It encompasses a Kasbah, fortifications and the Great Mosque of Sousse. The Medina today houses the Archaeological Museum of Sousse. A number of Punic steles were discovered in the Medina, between the Ribat and the Great Mosque, in the 19th and 20th centuries.

History[]

The Medina of Sousse is located in the Tunisian Sahel and forms an outstanding archeological site. This was primarily because of the time it was built at the dawn of Islamic civilization, making it one of the earliest constructions after the Islamic conquests in the Maghreb. It was also because of the location of the Medina, a site that required protection against piracy and plunder.^[1]

The constructions comprised in its precincts witnessed the early post-conquest civilisations. Its architectural style, from the time of the Aghlabid, is representative of the military coastal constructions of the era, meant to be stout and imposing, so as to ward off foes.

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  Tower of the Medina of Sousse

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  Wall of the Medina

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  Medina of Sousse Sign of UNESCO World Heritage

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  Walls of the Medina of Sousse

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  One of the gates of the Medina

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  Mosque of the Medina of Sousse

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  Ribat of the Medina of Sousse

References[]