At the Regional Museum of Mahdia, history begins with the building’s façade: the former town hall was converted into a museum in 1997, while its original 1913 façade was preserved. But Mahdia can be explored through more than architecture. The museum’s jewelry and clothing, the old harbor, and panoramic views of the city and peninsula offer further, clearly distinct perspectives.

A museum with an architectural history and diverse collections

The Regional Museum of Mahdia is housed in a former town hall. It was converted into a museum in 1997, while the original 1913 façade was preserved. The two dates mark different parts of the building’s history: 1913 refers to the façade, and 1997 to the conversion. This means the building itself offers a distinct point of interest alongside the exhibits. Its former use, later function as a museum, and preserved façade come together in one building, so you can also read the history of the place in its architecture.

In the jewelry room, you’ll find two hoards of Byzantine gold coins from Raqqa and Chebba, as well as Zirid scrolls. There are also traditional pieces of jewelry that women in Mahdia still wear at wedding celebrations today. This makes the jewelry a link between the exhibition and contemporary celebratory practices: the coin hoards and scrolls are collection items, while the jewelry continues to be worn.

The ethnographic section of the Regional Museum displays traditional women’s clothing from Mahdia. This gives clothing its own place in the collection, alongside the objects shown in the jewelry room. If you’re especially interested in cultural forms of expression, you can distinguish these sections by their subject matter: jewelry and its use today on the one hand, and traditional women’s clothing on the other. The two topics sit side by side in the museum, but each tells a story of a different form of material culture.

Harbor and viewpoints

The old harbor of Mahdia offers a different historical perspective. It has been carved into the rock since Punic times and used as a trading post. Its construction and function go hand in hand: the rock is part of the harbor complex, while its role in trade is its key historical feature. Compared with the museum, where the building and collections catch the eye, here the focus shifts to a place with a clear role in trade. The harbor is an ideal counterpart if you want to understand Mahdia not only through exhibits but also through its former uses.

Borj al-Kabir adds a viewpoint to your cultural and historical discoveries. From the upper part of the fortress, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Mahdia peninsula and the entire city. A visit to the museum also ends with a passage to the terrace of Skifa al-Kahla, which offers panoramic views across Mahdia. The two vistas overlap when it comes to the city, but differ in their views of the peninsula: it features in the view from Borj al-Kabir, while the museum terrace offers views across the city. This gives you two panoramic experiences to choose from, one after your museum visit and the other from the upper part of the fortress.

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