A medina is the old walled part of a North African city, and Tunis has one of the best preserved in the world. Walking into it feels like stepping into a different time — the streets are so narrow that sunlight only reaches the ground in thin strips, and the sounds of hammering copper, singing birds, and friendly chatter fill the air.
The souks are split by what they sell. There is a souk for spices, a souk for gold jewellery, one for leather goods, and even one just for hats. The most famous hat sold here is the chechia — a round red wool cap that Tunisian men have worn for centuries. Craftspeople still make them by hand in tiny workshops you can peek into as you walk past.
Some of the finest buildings in the Medina are the ancient schools called madrasas. Their courtyards are decorated with carved plaster, painted tiles, and wooden screens so intricate it is hard to believe humans made them without machines. The whole Medina was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979 to make sure its beauty is kept safe forever.