Mahdia

 It was the first capital of the Fatimid caliphs in the tenth century is built flush with the rock on a thin peninsula. It derives its charm from its color sapphire sea, its beautiful beaches, its medina and its animation of traditional small town, fishing village and silk weavers. The Epic of Mahdia When in 912, Obeid Allah El Mahdi, away from Kairouan, decided to choose a capital for the new Fatimid dynasty, he waited for his astrologers have read in the stars domination sign of the lion, symbol power to designate the site of Cap Africa, former Carthaginian trading forming an impregnable peninsula, and give it its name: Mahdia ... 

He built fortifications around the city and renovated at the narrowest point of the peninsula, access control that a large door called the Skiffa El Kahla (the "dark porch"). The city then contained, besides the prince Fatimid stronghold and palace, the Grand Mosque, the Administration and the shops of artisans. The latter, weavers, blacksmiths, jewelers, as traders were forced to live Zoulia suburb built on the mainland, creating a bipolar city which experienced a remarkable intellectual and artistic life. But the Fatimids, weakened by internal revolts and uprisings, chose to flee to Egypt and founded Cairo in 973 Mahdia, now led by Zirides there, was the scene of epics with the incursions of the Normans of Sicily Genoese and the Knights of Malta, to the Hafsid dynasties (1234), Muradite (1612) and Husseinite (1705) which secured him the stability and subsequent repopulation of Andalusians and Anatolian, making a rich town of Mahdia cultures and traditions. Traditions At the weekly market (Friday), the Skiffa El Kahla becomes a veritable treasure trove worthy of the Arabian Nights, as the old weavers, embroiderers and seamstresses will expose for sale beautiful traditional costumes. There they spread silk and gilt, while a real market for gold jewelry is practiced. A chance to see the traditional female costume Mahdia, arguably the richest of Tunisia, as the luster of silk colorful vies with sumptuous embroidered with gold thread. In Mahdia, interior decoration of homes subject to a cult; the "Dar" (the house) is an authentic work of art ... In wealthier homes, especially street Hamza, which includes a dozen beautiful houses built in the last century by members of the same family the walls of the "majless" (main room) are covered with embroidered cloth two-thirds of their height, while the upper part is decorated with paintings. Wooden shelves, painted in bright colors, carry a multitude of fine pottery, spear-blown glass perfume of delicate colors, antique gold-framed mirrors. The cornice and ceiling are themselves painted floral motifs. The Treasury Mahdia "Off Mahdia, a few kilometers north-east of this prestigious city, sponge divers in 1907 signaled the presence of ancient submerged objects. The deposit contained columns, capitals; excavations have revealed that it was actually a whole boatload of art objects for the construction of a magnificent building ... What a rich cargo! In addition to the columns, capitals, and stunning marble craters were removed masterpieces in bronze, such as Hagar the Citharède Eros, Hermes Dionysus, the dancing dwarf, running the satire ... and sculptures in marble bust of Aphrodite as a beauty quite divine. "(Mohamed Fantar) the marine graveyard" magic cemetery Mahdia extends from one side to the other of the promontory its whiteness. With its bright yellow field of daisies in spring, deep silhouettes of the walls that surround it, and the wreck of a boat on the hoary rock from the nearby creek, which provides marine cemetery, as nowhere else, a calming, spiritual relaxation "At the heart of the Mediterranean Mahdia, it is also the charm of seaside towns.; fishing port is one of the largest in Tunisia, specializing particularly in sardines caught in the glow of lumparos, creating, on summer evenings, starting trawlers, a fascinating spectacle that illuminates the sea and harbor secular Mahdia thousand candles. "This is the first light of the summer that the port seems most animated, delivered at the auction fishmongers and arrive by the hundreds and thousands of cases of sardines, anchovies or mackerel, caught on the high seas. "Divers get enthusiastic funds Mahdia, rich and varied, sometimes at great depths, while dreaming of the famous archaeological wreck once explored by Jacques Cousteau ... Several dive centers used to learn or improve and to discover the most interesting sights. Mahdia Vacations With its large fishing port, its medina skimming the waves, its traditional atmosphere and beautiful beaches, Mahdia has everything to seduce. New hotels started recently implanted into a beautiful resort on a human scale. Recently, Mahdia has also become a destination of thalassotherapy with two built-in 5 and 4 star hotels centers. Only 40 km from Mahdia, golf enthusiasts will find two 18-hole Monastir, Palm Links and Flamingo Golf Course.