We'll tell you how to relax in the popular resort of Mahdia in Tunisia. Let's talk about attractions, weather, tours and much more. Read it.
The resort town is located in Tunisia. It is the center of the vilayat (region) of the same name. Together with the cities of Sousse and Monastir, they unite into an agglomeration with a population of one and a half million people.
Mahdia is famous for its beaches with white sand and clear water. The rhythm of life here is calm, so the resort is suitable for a family or private holiday. Thalassotherapy is developed - treatment with sea water and bathing.
Most of the hotels - three, four or five stars - are located on the first coastline. So, if you come to this city, you won’t have to walk far and drive to the beach.
Historical reference
The founder of Mahdia is Caliph Ubayd Allah. He founded the city in 916, and in 921 he made it the capital of the caliphate. The caliph's nickname was El-Mahdi, which roughly translates to "The Just" or "The Savior." It was in honor of this that the city founded by El-Mahdi was named.
Mahdia, located on the peninsula, had a strategic advantage. To strengthen the defense, fortifications were erected along the perimeter, and in the narrowest place the Scythian el-Qala gate was built, which separated the city from the mainland.
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In the 12th century, the city was nevertheless stormed by the soldiers of Roger II, the ruler of Sicily. It later came under the rule of the pirate commander Dragut. He waged war with the Spaniards, and in the 16th century their army destroyed most of the fortifications. When the wars ended, the current resort fell into the possession of France, and today it is known as an important port and one of the centers of silk weaving.
Mahdia on the map of Tunisia
Weather in Mahdia
It has a relatively warm, mild climate, which is significantly influenced by. The time from to when the air warms up to +30 °C and the water warms up to +23 °C is considered favorable for swimming. However, it can be cold at night - up to +5 °C. Take warm clothes with you for evening walks.
From now on, the weather is more conducive to excursions and shopping than to swimming. At this time, the air temperature is up to +20 °C, and the water temperature is up to +15 °C. It is coldest in Mahdia in winter and early spring. Air usually does not warm up more than +15 °C, and water - more than +12 °C. It often rains in winter.
How to get to the resort
You can fly to Monastir International Airport named after Habib Bourguiba (the first Tunisian president). It is located almost 50 kilometers from the city. You can get here from Monastir by bus, train or luage (economy class minibus, simply a minibus).
Transfers are possible, including from larger international airports - Enfidha or Tunis (the capital).
You can get to different parts of the resort itself by train, which runs along the coast (ticket - about five dinars). You can also take a taxi (about three times more expensive than the train). Buses and buses operate within the city.
The city's attractions
Objects related to the history of the city belong to different periods. The Gordian Amphitheater is from the times of Ancient Rome, the Arab fortifications date back to the 10th–11th centuries, and the Dar el-Khimma Museum dates back to the 19th–20th centuries.
Amphitheater Gordiana
Tourist excursions are often dedicated to this place. The amphitheater externally resembles the Colosseum in Rome, since it was built in its likeness. Years of construction - 232–238 AD. Of all the Roman amphitheatres, this is the fourth largest, it was designed for thirty thousand people. They managed to decorate it with mosaics, but it was not used for performances for long: the empire soon faded away.
Since the 7th century, the Arabs have slowly used the sandstone of the amphitheater for their own construction. However, most of the structure has been preserved. It is much less damaged than the Colosseum in Rome, which is why films about gladiators are often filmed in Mahdia. Since the last century, the surviving mosaics have been kept in the archaeological museum, and the amphitheater itself is included in the UNESCO heritage.
Fortifications from the Caliphate
The most famous of the surviving structures is the Scythian el-Kala gate, also known as the Black Gate. They have an observation deck that you are allowed to climb to. From there you can see the old part of the city and Cape Africa.
On this cape is located Borj el-Kebir, a fortress that was built during the heyday of the caliphate. Entrance to the fortress is inexpensive, only 3 dinars. You should definitely admire the scenery from one of the towers. The remaining fortifications, mostly ruins, are located near the water at Cape Africa, near the lighthouse building.
Not far from the gate of Skifa el-Kala stands the Great Mosque. It was originally built in 921, but over time it completely collapsed. In 1965 it was restored according to exact old plans. The distinctive feature of the building is that it is a mosque-fortress. This is exactly how the Arabs built during the turbulent times of conquest.
Dar el-Khimma Museum
This museum is located in the former building of the Sfar Mosque at Place du 7 novembre, Mahdia 5100, also near the Scythian el-Qala gate. In fact, the building houses two museums - archaeological and silk.
In archaeology, various historical finds have been collected over the past decades - from the times of Ancient Rome to pirate wars. Here you can see weapons, clothing, lamps, fragments of architectural structures, and works of art.
The Silk Museum tells the story of the success of the Jews from Libya, who founded several workshops in Mahdia in the 19th century. In a matter of decades, their products, along with the world-famous Lyon silk, became popular in different countries. The museum displays looms, as well as masterpieces made with their help, from clothes to ribbons.
Museum opening hours:
- in summer - from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00;
- in winter - on the same days, but from 9:00 to 16:00.
Entrance price - 1 dinar. Permission for photography costs the same.
Resort entertainment
In Mahdia, the tourist infrastructure is not as developed as in Sousse and other neighboring cities. However, there are several five-star hotels, and quite a few three- and four-star ones. Most of them are located in the green zone outside the city center, and you need to get to them by taxi or by tourist train that runs along the coast.
There is no vibrant nightlife here: at night the city really sleeps. The main entertainment in summer and early autumn is visiting the beaches. The swimming area is designated Zone Touristique de Mahdia and is located on a peninsula.
The local cuisine deserves special attention. When you come to relax, it’s easy to understand why it is called the fish capital. A huge variety of seafood dishes are prepared here, which can be tasted in expensive restaurants and street cafes. Mahdia is the only region of Tunisia where couscous is prepared with fish rather than vegetables or lamb.
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Diving center
If you love diving, water sports and boating, visit the Subway Dive Center. It is located at Vieux Port de Peche Mahdia, Mahdia 5100. Open daily from 8:00 to 19:00 during all swimming and bathing hours.
The cost of instruction and the services themselves depends on the time of year, the workload of the center and which instructor you contact. In some cases, you can bargain.
Excursions in the surrounding area
As already mentioned, there are not many entertainment centers in Mahdia itself. Thalassotherapy centers are located near the city center. Horseback riding is carried out, and Arabian horses take part in them - the same ones known throughout the world.
We offer tourist tours to Tunisia (the capital), Djerba, Sousse, Hammamet, Monastir - resorts with more active entertainment. You can also visit the cave city of Matmata, preserved and partially reconstructed. It reliably conveys the appearance of Berber dwellings. Matmata is also known for the fact that fragments of “Star Wars” were filmed here - those that take place on the desert planet Tatooine.
Shopping
Since weaving is developed in Mahdia, you can buy a lot of silk products here: clothes, hats, silk-lined shoes, handbags, shawls, palanquins. Most of the shops are located in the old part of the city. The average cost of silk products ranges from fifty to several hundred dinars.
If you are not inclined to sleep until lunchtime, visit the Friday market near the Skifa el-Kala gate. They sell clothes here, including festive ones, with silk decorations, only cheaper than in stores. Most transactions are made in the morning; by noon, trading usually ends.
In addition to jewelry and souvenirs, olive oil and olive soap with moisturizing ingredients are brought from here. These goods are sold very cheaply: only six to seven dinars per liter of oil and about a dinar per bar of soap.
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Here is a map of Mahdia with streets → Tunisia. We study a detailed map of Mahdia with houses and streets. Search in real time, weather today, coordinates, traffic jams
More details about the streets of Mahdia on the map
A detailed map of the city of Mahdia with street names and villages will be able to show all the routes (driving directions) and roads of the Mahdia region, how to get to the street. Rue Jean, where is the main or central one, what country is it, the surroundings of the nearest settlement, type of area for recreation. Located near
To view the territory of the entire region in detail, it is enough to change the scale of the online diagram +/-. The page contains an interactive map of the city of Mahdia (Tunis) with addresses and routes, directions of travel and bypass roads. Move its center to find your home on Rue Aden now
The ability to plot a route across the country, measure and calculate distances using the “Ruler” tool, find out the length of the city and the path to the center, determine your location and neighboring areas, addresses of attractions, transport stops and hospitals (“Hybrid”), look at nearby cars and trains train stations, regional borders
You will find all the necessary detailed information about the location of the city infrastructure. Search for places nearby, look for nearby bus stations and shops, squares and banks, highways and highways.
An accurate satellite map of the resort of Mahdia in Russian with Google search is in its own section. Use Yandex search to show the desired house on a city map in Tunisia/the world, in real time, in full screen. . St. Rue Zagana will help you find your way around.
Coordinates - 35.5030,11.0614
