Sfax - Medina / Bab Diwan

Avenue Hedi Chaker in Sfax runs north to the main gateway of the Medina, Bab Diwan, built in 1306 and subsequently much altered, almost totally destroyed by bombing in 1943 and rebuilt after the war in its original form. The Medina is relatively small, measuring only 400m/440yds by 500m/550yds, and is enclosed by a well preserved circuit of walls 2km/1.25mi long. The walls, originally built in mud brick by the Aghlabids in the ninth century, were later strongly fortified. The Kasbah at the southwest corner was built in the 17th century; the fortifications at the east end date from the 12th century.

Unusually, the streets of the Medina are mainly laid out on a rectangular plan, presumably inherited from the Roman town.

Rue Mongi Slim runs through the Medina from south to north. In Rue de la Driba, which goes off on the right, are a number of houses with handsome and imposing doorways; and in a side street opening off it on the left is the interesting Folk Museum.