Lost in the medina Traditional Geocache
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A traditional cache near the Archaeological Museum.
Founded in the 19th century BC as the Phoenician outpost of Hadruméte, Sousse fell under the sway of Carthage from the middle of the 6th century BC. The famous Carthaginian general Hannibal used the town as his base against Romans in the final stages of the Second Punic Was in 202 BC. The town allied itself with Rome during the Third (and final) Punic War, but Hadrumétum, as it became known, later chose the wrong side when it became Pompey's base during the Roman civil war, and suffered badly after his forces were defeated by Julius Caesar at the Battle of Thapsus in 46 BC. Sousse's formidable defences proved of little use when it was levelled, wall and all, by Okba ibn Nafaa al-Fihri, falling to the Arabs in the late 7th century. Rebuild as the Arab town of Soussa, it became the main port of the 9th century Aghlabid dynasty based in Kairouan. By the time the French arrived in 1881, it had declined to a modest settlement of just 8000 people.
The walls of Sousse's fine old medina stretch 2.25 km at the height of 8 m and are fortified with a series of solid square turrets. They were built by the Aghlabids in AD 859 on the foundations of the city's original Byzantine walls. Within the walls are 24 mosques (12 for men and 12 for women) and a wealth of historical landmarks worth seeking out. The main entrance to the medina is at the northeastern corner at the place des Martyrs. The area was created when Allied bombs blew away this section of the wall in 1943.
Places worth visiting in the medina include the Great Mosque, Ribat, Archaeological Museum & Kasbah and the Das Essid Museum. You will also find a plethora of souqs, small shops selling everything You don't need.
Keep an eye on your belongings; don't forget to bargain; and most importantly, enjoy wandering around and getting lost in the medina.
(Source: Lonely Planet Tunisia)
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