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Home > Tunisia > Our Tours > IFRIQIYA. Thirteen Centuries of Art and Architecture in Tunisia.Tour Length: 7 days / 6 nights
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IFRIQIYA. Thirteen Centuries of Art and Architecture in Tunisia.
TUNISIA - South
Detailed Programme |
Day 1
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ARRIVAL IN TUNISProgramme Upon arrival at Tunis Carthage Airport you will be met by by a representative of the travel agency, who will assist you with all formalities and take you to your hotel for overnight in Tunis. |
Day 2
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TUNIS (MEDINA)Programme Full-day visit to Tunis’s wonderful maze-like medina with its winding, vaulted 9th-century alleyways built around the central mosque. Each turn reveals beautiful examples of Islamic city planning: Madrasa Slimaniya (a traditional Islamic school), Dar Ben Abdallah (dar is a typical Tunisian dwelling), a hammam (public bath house) and the Great Mosque of Zitouna in the middle of the medina. Overnight in Tunis. Reference to Exhibition Trail: ITINERARY I |
Day 3
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KAIROUANProgramme The day will be dedicated to the discovery of Kairouan, the fourth holiest city in the Muslim world after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem and amongst the greatest Islamic centres of intellectual and religious pursuit during the 9th century. Start by visiting the 7th-century Great Uqba mosque, which marks the beginnings of Islam in Tunisia and the Maghreb. Transfer to the Aghlabid Reservoirs (9th century), the most famous hydraulic works of the Islamic world. The third visit will take us to the mausoleum of Abu Zama‘a al-Balawi, one of the Prophet’s companions. Turkish, Byzantine and Andalusian influences merge with the local Kairouanese school of architecture. Continue to Sidi Saheb museum and then visit the Kairouanese medina (optional). Overnight in Kairouan. Reference to Exhibition Trail: ITINERARY V |
Day 4
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GAFSA / TAMERZA / CHEBIKA / MIDES / TOZEURProgramme Drive to Gafsa, the city-oasis situated in a strategic geographical position for the control of the caravan circuit stretching from the Tell area to the Sahara and from Morocco to Gabes and Egypt. This zone, known as Bilad al-Jarid, comprises a chain of vibrant green oases. Gafsa’s years of prosperity under Roman, Byzantine and later Arab rule enabled it to grow into the principal commercial and communication centre of south-west Tunisia. Visit the oasis and the city of Gafsa and then continue to Tamerza, Chebika and Mides. At the oases of Tamerza and Chebika waterfalls, palm trees and veritable explosions of green lie in stark contrast to the warm red rock and sand surrounding them. The ancient clay homes of abandoned Berber villages clinging to the hills make a breath-taking sight. The more adventurous can hike back in the silent tranquillity of Chebika’s gorge and look out over hundreds of kilometres of flat parched desert. Overnight in Tozeur. Reference to Exhibition Trail: ITINERARY IX |
Day 5
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CHOTT EL-JERID / GABES / MATMATA / TAOUJOUT / TAMEZRET / JERBAProgramme Cross the dry salt lake of Chott el-Jerid and arrive in Gabes, whose foundation goes back to the Phoenicians. After the Arab conquest in the mid-7th century, Gabes was the centre of a refined civilisation under Aghlabid and Fatimid rule and under the Turkish Muradite dynasty (17th century). Our visit includes the oases, mosque and madrasa of Sidi Bulbaba (Muhammad’s barber), the Great Mosque, remains from the Aghlabid and Fatimid periods (9th–10th centuries) and the spice market. The tour continues in Matmata and its famous “troglodyte” houses, open pit homes built underground to protect the Berbers from intense heat in the summer. Continue to the neighbouring hill-perched villages of Taoujout and Tamezret. To Jerba for overnight. Reference to Exhibition Trail: ITINERARY X |
Day 6
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JERBA / TUNISProgramme Jerba is known for its many white-walled mosques and its once sizeable Jewish community (from 600 BC). Holding an important strategic position in the Mediterranean, Jerba’s traditions are the fruit of a long history of cultural diversity. Conquered by the Arabs in 887, this island became part of the Ibadite Rustemid imamate (778-909) and refuge of Ibadite groups. Its strategic position and the lack of natural defences attracted the Normans in the 12th-13th centuries. In the 16th century the island was the refuge of the famous pirate Dragut. Jerba was then annexed to the Ottoman Empire. Jerba’s burjs, fortress-like mosque and city framework testify to massive attacks and the influence of austere Ibadite and Malikite doctrines. Visit Burj al-Ghazi Mustafa (14th century), Funduq al-Zawiya (18th century), Madrasa Jumniya (17th century), Zwiya Sidi Zaytuni (18th century) and the ancient synagogue of the Ghriba (closed on Saturday). Fly to Tunis for overnight. Reference to Exhibition Trail: ITINERARY XI |
Day 7
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DEPARTURE FROM TUNISProgramme On departure day you will be collected from the hotel by a representative of the travel agency, who will accompany you to Tunis Carthage Airport and assist you until check-in. |
PAST & PRESENT OPTIONS
On request the visit to historical monuments and sites can be combined with features representing the country today:
Tunis
A visit to the National Library of Tunis, containing about 40,000 titles and covering various areas of knowledge starting from the 10th century.
Gabes
A visit to a Gabes farm to see geothermic-based agricultural development.
Programme And Prices Are Subject To Change. © Museum With No Frontiers, 2009 – 2013