The Medina of Sfax covers 24 hectares and is surrounded by 2,750 metres of city walls. This historic urban area includes Dar Jallouli and the Great Mosque, among other landmarks. The Sfax Archaeological Museum complements these buildings with collections of finds from the region. The urban layout, architecture and archaeological objects thus offer different ways of exploring the history of Sfax.
Medina and City Walls
The area and wall length describe two different measures: the 24 hectares refer to the Medina, while the 2,750 metres refer to the walls surrounding it. The city walls enclose a slightly distorted quadrilateral. It extends 600 metres from east to west and 400 to 450 metres from north to south. Together, these measurements give an idea of the shape of the walled urban area; they represent different dimensions and should not be equated with one another.
The construction history of the walls also provides a specific historical reference point. They were built in 859 AD under the rule of Ahmed Ibn el-Aghlab by the Qadi Ali Ibn Aslam el-Bekri. This dating links today’s description of the urban fabric to a named historical period and the people under whose rule or direction the construction took place.
Houses, Mosque and Urban Axes
Dar Jallouli is a traditional house in the heart of the Medina, built in the 17th century. Its location, house type and period of construction make the building a specific example of Sfax’s historic residential architecture. Compared with the city walls, whose construction dates back to 859, Dar Jallouli represents a much later building phase. Both references help show that the city’s history spans more than a single century.
The Great Mosque of Sfax is located in the centre of the Medina, at the intersection of the road between Bab-el-Gibli and Bab-el-Diwan and the central east-west axis. Its location is therefore described both in relation to a route between two named gates and in relation to an axis of the urban fabric. Those interested in the spatial layout of the Medina will find a different perspective here than at Dar Jallouli: the focus is on the building’s location and its place within the city’s axes.
Archaeological Collections from the Region
The Sfax Archaeological Museum displays extensive collections of Roman-era mosaics, glass, ceramics and coins. The objects come from archaeological sites in the region. The focus is therefore on different types of finds and their regional origins, rather than on the building history of a single house or the layout of the urban area. The collections complement the historic buildings with material evidence from the Roman era.
Different Focuses for Planning Your Trip
For a cultural and historical stay, the topics described here can be clearly distinguished: the walls reveal the scale and historical origins of the enclosed urban area; Dar Jallouli represents a traditional house from the 17th century; and the Great Mosque is situated in relation to two urban axes. The museum, in turn, brings together mosaics, glass, ceramics and coins from regional archaeological sites. Visitors choosing Sfax can therefore focus more on the urban layout and architectural history or on the archaeological collections. These different themes provide a specific basis for deciding which interests to prioritise when planning a trip.
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