How to get to Mahdia. Chronology and interesting facts. Description of the resort Mahdia

There is no noisy nightlife or giant shopping centers, but all other tourist infrastructure is available. A couple of dozen attractions, no less restaurants and hotels, among which there are real palaces with indispensable thalassotherapy centers.

But the most important thing is, of course, the beaches, here they are the best in all of Tunisia. The seafood at the resort is also the best, and the local fish market is beyond praise. In short, Mahdia is an ideal place for introverts, gourmets and family travelers who just need something: a plate of mussels or shrimp, a sun lounger for which you don’t have to fight with competitors, and lots and lots of oriental flavor.

How to get to Mahdia

Mahdia does not have its own airport; you will have to fly to Monastir. Only flights with transfers are possible from Moscow. It’s easier to fly with a transfer in Paris or Nice with Aeroflot from Sheremetyevo or Lufthansa from Domodedovo, back in Berlin (UTair with arrival in Vnukovo). Tunisair and Nuvelair will transport you from Europe to Mahdia and back. The flight to the resort is 8.5 hours.

Air Serbia will charge the least for a flight to Paris from Moscow - 215 USD round-trip; from France to Mahdia and back, Transavia and Tunisair will deliver for 175 USD. Prices on the page are as of March 2019.

Almost all hotels in Mahdia are located on the first coastline.

Apartments at the resort can be booked for 70 TND per night (but if it is an apartment with 4 bedrooms and a breathtaking view, they will ask for at least 5100 TND). A room in a three-room apartment will cost from 120 TND per night, in a five-room apartment - from 190 TND per night.

Beaches

The beaches in Mahdia are free, sandy and snow-white, the Mediterranean Sea is gentle and warm, and the entrance to it is gentle. Conventionally, recreation areas are divided into three types - located in the city center, hotel and wild, which stretch to the village of Bakhdedi.

The central beaches are not particularly convenient - in addition to sand, there are boulders on the coast, so tourists prefer not to move away from the hotels. The complexes provide guests with everything they need - from sun loungers and towels to simple entertainment such as riding on catamarans, boats or diving and snorkeling. The conditions here are excellent for observing underwater life - the water is clear, the marine flora and fauna are diverse. In addition, the resort's cafes and restaurants are concentrated here.

Wild beaches are 3 km of pure sand by the turquoise sea, which begin immediately behind the Club Thapsus hotel and end in Monastir. There are no sun loungers or umbrellas here, but there are few vacationers either. All other delights like postcard views, hot sun and the feeling of heaven on earth are available.

Shopping and shops

For all of Tunisia, Mahdia is the center of silk weaving, and even the traditional outfit of a local bride consists only of this fabric: from a long white shirt with multi-colored tassels along the bottom to a headdress made of orange silk embroidered with gold. Products here are woven in the old fashioned way, on a primitive loom with a foot drive. Shawls and stoles, dresses, handbags are then made from the finished material, and shoes are trimmed with it. Silk shops are located in the medina. The cost of a small one-color stole starts from 55 TND, there are also real woven masterpieces costing several hundred.

On Fridays, a special bazaar opens at the Black Gate where wedding dresses are sold. It’s better to come in the morning; by noon everyone has already left.

From Mahdia you can also bring products from the Zouila olive cooperative: from delicious olive oil (6-8 TND per liter) to soap based on it with moisturizing ingredients (about 2 TND per piece).

Cuisine and restaurants of Mahdia

The basis of Tunisian cuisine is the freshest seafood, generously seasoned with an unreal amount of pepper. Mahdia is no exception. Therefore, here you should despise meat (although settle for lamb, you won’t regret it) and completely devote yourself to devouring shrimp, squid, cuttlefish, octopus, tuna, and sea bass. Moreover, they are caught just a few hours before serving and prepared with unsurpassed skill in almost any restaurant.

To prevent the cook from going overboard with spices, tell him “mish hara” - “not spicy” - or (who the hell is not kidding?) “no spice”.

In Mahdia you should try the traditional Tunisian soup “shorbu” made from fish or lamb, fish couscous - a local exclusive, an incredibly spicy appetizer “harissa” made from red pepper with garlic and spices, as well as all kinds of olives. You will be offered to wash it down with very sweet green tea with nuts or strong coffee.

You can choose almost any restaurant. Those further from the center will be cheaper; on average, dinner for two with alcohol will cost from 150 TND. Anticipating the question about strong drinks: yes, Mahdia is the territory of Islam, but alcohol is sold to foreign tourists in hotels, bars, restaurants, and shops.

Entertainment and attractions

The picturesque embankment with numerous shops, cafes and restaurants is a favorite place for vacationers to walk. Also interesting is the local

Tunisia is the country where people first of all go to get to the sea. We have already told you, and now we want to tell you what they are beaches of Tunisia. From the article you will learn what you can expect from each of them, and you will be able to decide for yourself where are the best beaches in Tunisia– both according to objective criteria and according to your personal needs and tastes.

From the article you will learn

Where are the best beaches in Tunisia? general review

Most of coastline of Tunisia falls on beaches, so it is not at all surprising that this country has become such an attractive place for. And it’s not just the quantity, but also the quality of the beaches: there are almost no steep, rocky shores, especially close popular resorts.

You can come across a rocky slope only on a few sections of the coast of Mahdia and Hammamet, but otherwise the beaches consist of very fine and light sand, pleasant to the touch.

The width of the beach area in few places is more than 50 m, but this is usually compensated by its length and gentle descent into the water, which is especially tempting for families with children.

Many people consider white sand to be the standard at an exotic resort, and, unfortunately, pure white cannot be found here. But you can find something very close in Mahdia and, as well as in some places in Hammamet. All of these resorts can be considered a good choice for a beach holiday, although they have their own nuances.

When choosing a resort, you definitely need to decide for yourself how comfortable a vacation you want. All beaches in Tunisia are in municipal ownership, but their cleanliness is not at all the same, as are the amenities and the number of vacationers.

Beaches of the Monastir resort from the Ribat fortress (roll the mouse to see the panorama):

Hammamet and Sousse- resorts with the most developed tourist infrastructure, so their beaches are usually very crowded. This can be a plus as it means it usually has all the amenities and activities you'd expect from a beach holiday. But on the other hand, this is a minus for those who do not like crowds of people and prefer cleanliness.

Despite the fact that all officially recognized beaches must be cleaned on time, this does not always happen, and in Hammamet and Sousse the sand is often strewn with garbage and other human waste. The cleanliness of the sea also leaves much to be desired.

On beaches of Mahdia and the island of Djerba much more spacious. Here you can find many undeveloped corners. It's also much easier to find here "wild" beaches, but you have to be very careful with this. Local laws are very strict, and what is allowed in tourist areas may cause a very negative reaction from locals if they bump into you outside of them.

For girls in no case You should not relax on “wild” beaches unaccompanied by men. It is also highly undesirable to be caught expressing intimate feelings towards your loved one. And even more so for girls You shouldn't sunbathe topless in Tunisia or completely naked.

If exposure of the upper body by women is still creakingly permitted on the territory of some hotels, then complete nudity, regardless of gender, is prohibited. For the same reason, in Tunisia at all no nudist beaches.

Beaches of Hammamet

Almost all the beaches of Hammamet are developed by the tourism industry, and for good reason: the sea here is very quiet, and the sand is fine and uniform. The beaches run along the coastline, almost without interruption; leaving the city, you can walk to Yasmine Hammamet, the yacht port, without leaving the sandy strip while walking.

In Hammamet there are almost no sections of the beach where there are no crowds of people, but the situation with this is much better than in Sousse. Behind purity of sand and sea they are monitored here, and not only on hotel grounds, and trash is removed on time and seaweed.

Beaches of Djerba

Djerba Island- the warmest resort in Tunisia due to its proximity to the Sahara and the fact that beaches on the northeast side islands protected from cold currents by a sandbar. The swimming season here is longer than in other places, but you need to prepare for the fact that the holiday will be quiet and measured. Due to the large width of the beaches (sometimes up to several hundred meters), there is spaciousness here even in the most developed places by civilization.

The beach of one of the hotels in Djerba in the photo panorama:

Only a small part of the coastline is occupied by hotels, and by renting a car you can easily find a deserted bay or lagoon. Unfortunately, the sea may not be very clean, not due to garbage, as in Sousse, but because of algae washed up on the shore. They are usually cleaned only on hotel premises. However, they will only bother those who like to splash around in shallow water: if you go further away, there will be no algae.

This is what one of the wild beaches on the island of Djerba in the Midoun area looks like (scroll the photo to see the full panorama):

Sand on Djerba not as fine and uniform as in other resorts. The best is in the south of the island, but it is the southern part that is the worst developed by tourism. In the northern and northeastern parts, where most hotels are located, the sand is coarse or mixed.

Holiday hotels on the island of Djerba with good reviews:

What is the beach in Sousse?

Of all the listed resorts, Sousse is the least “beachy”. You are unlikely to be able to calmly sunbathe on clean sand or splash in the sea, and this is not only due to other vacationers, of whom many thousands come here. Locals who want to sell you their goods and services can be extremely annoying here, especially in the beach area.

On Municipal beaches of Sousse better overall don't meddle: despite the fact that specially appointed workers must clean them up, this does not happen everywhere, and local residents come here willingly, for the whole day and with their whole families, and they are not always positively disposed towards tourists.

Municipal beach Bou Jaafar in Sousse in the photo panorama (photo can be rotated with the mouse):

On the beaches divided between hotels, the situation is better. Moreover, the amenities and cleanliness of the beaches, and the quality of recreation in general, are heterogeneous here. The territory of the resort can be roughly divided into two zones, the zone of Sousse itself and the zone of the port of El Kantaoui, which was specially created for tourist needs. The closer to El Kantaoui, those better and more comfortable beaches(and even more luxurious hotels). Beaches directly around El Kantaoui meet the highest quality standards.

Sousse is most suitable for those vacationers who are going to spend a rather limited time at sea, but want to fully enjoy all the other types of entertainment that the exotic country has to offer.

Panorama of one of the beaches in Sousse:

Holiday hotels in Sousse with good reviews:

Mahdia beaches - white sand without algae

Almost all beach area of Mahdia occupied by hotels that improve it in every possible way and take care of the cleanliness of the sand and sea. “Wild” beaches, incredibly picturesque, but not very convenient for swimming, can be found on the southern coast. It was here that local divers settled, attracted by the clear water of the local bays. And yet people usually don’t go to Mahdia for scuba diving.

This resort is simply ideal for a family holiday, especially with children. The descent into the sea is very gentle everywhere, so even kids will have room to turn around. The beaches here are not too wide, but this does not prevent them from being extremely attractive due to the fineness, like powder, and almost white sand. Algae near the shore A little, and they are usually cleaned on time.

Hotels with private beach in Tunisia

If you are going to Tunisia to swim and sunbathe, then in most cases it will be best for you to stay in hotel with private beach. There are many positive aspects to this choice. Beach areas managed by the hotel are usually cleaned by staff and the sea is cleared of algae. Rules of conduct are looser.

IN hotels enough high level is not allowed to your territory strangers, which is especially important if you are tired of annoying merchants who constantly invade your personal space on a public beach and try to force goods on you.

Medina Solaria And Thalasso, five stars, Hammamet

This hotel not only boasts a private beach four minutes away, but also many other attractive features. In addition to the beach, guests can enjoy several swimming pools, one of which has a hot tub and is located in a picturesque three-story garden with artificial grottoes and a slide. You can also enjoy spa and thalasso treatments here.

LTI Mahdia Beach, four stars, Mahdia

Decorated in traditional Tunisian style, the LTI Mahdia Beach Hotel not only has its own beach, but is located right on it. The sand on it is of the highest quality, which is typical for the beaches of Mahdia: fine and almost white. In addition to the sea, vacationers can enjoy swimming in a huge outdoor swimming pool of complex shape, which serves as a real decoration of the hotel. Additionally, the hotel has an indoor and heated pool. The rooms offer scenic views of the sea or garden.

Prices for tours to LTI Mahdia Beach start from 80 thousand for a week of vacation for two under the ultra all-inclusive program.

Club Calimera Yati Beach, four stars, Midoun (Djerba)

One of the best hotels for a beach holiday on the island of Djerba. The hotel has several swimming pools, including a pool near the bar. The hotel has a huge area and an equally huge selection of entertainment. The rooms are modern, the hotel was renovated in 2011. The most popular months for a holiday at this hotel are July, June, October.

– a small town in Tunisia with a small population. It is famous for the best beaches of its country with snow-white sand. This resort is more suitable for families with small children, because There are quite a few hotels here, there are no noisy parties or crowds.

From Monastir airport we drove to our hotel for about an hour. He was one of the first on our way. Basically, all hotels are located in the so-called tourist area, which is located outside the city. And almost all of them are located along the coast on the first coastline.

The resort area outside the hotels is very dirty, garbage is everywhere, trash cans are rare, and if they are found, they are overflowing.

During our vacation, we did not go on excursions anywhere, but we were highly recommended to visit Medina. It is called the heart of Mahdia. There are many different shops and cafes there. Our guide warned that a taxi from the hotel to the Medina will cost 3 dinars, if they ask for more, you need to bargain. When we left the hotel, a taxi immediately drove up to us. The driver announced to us - 4 dinars. In broken Russian-English, I defended 3 dinars. The journey took no more than 10 minutes. As soon as we got out of the car, a local resident ran up to us and tried to find out what country we were from. And in fairly understandable Russian he announced that he was a chef from El Borj (our hotel), today was his day off, and he was ready to show us the best retail outlets with seasonings, silver and other things. I opened my ears, but politely refused, explaining that we just came for a walk. He shook hands with his husband and left. I kept wondering, well, he must have remembered that we were from his hotel. However, my husband quickly brought me down to earth. It turns out that the taxi driver was writing a message to someone on the way, and my husband immediately saw through them)))) Returning to the hotel, my sister told me that many reviews had been written about such “chefs.”

In general, our walk began with “ Black Gate"(in Arabic Skifa el-Karla). The passage underneath is very dark, which is why the gate is called that. Now local traders have settled there. I liked Medina itself, it’s quite cozy and clean. But the merchants there are annoying, we were not interested in buying anything, so we politely refused. You definitely need to bargain with the locals and it is advisable to know the prices, because... they are initially greatly overestimated. Souvenirs, olive oil, dates, spices - we bought all this in supermarkets near our hotel. There are fixed prices, no one imposes anything. They always give you change, and you can pay by card.

Many cafes are located in the shade of trees, the crowns of which serve as charming roofs. In the cafe you can meet only local men and tourists.

After walking in and around the Medina, we walked to the hotel. Our journey took approximately 50-60 minutes. It’s hard to walk under the scorching sun, despite the wind blowing from the sea. We tried to stay in the shadow of various buildings along the sea line. The distance could be shortened by walking along the beach. But there is no shade at all.

In general, I cannot compare Mahdia with other resorts in Tunisia, because... I haven’t been anywhere else, but I definitely liked it here. I recommend!!!

Story

History of Mahdia

VIII century BC.

the emergence of the first colony of Phoenicians called Aphrodisium, which over time turned into a large trading center.

44 BC

Julius Caesar landed in Tunisia, pursuing Pompey and Cato, who had enlisted the support of the Numidian king Juba I. After Caesar's victory over the rebels at the Battle of Thapsus, the city came into Roman possession. During Roman times, there was an important trading port here, and the city housed a large Roman garrison.

Northern Africa was captured from the Western Roman Empire by the Vandals. The former possessions of the Carthaginians and Romans became the center of the Visigothic state.

The troops of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I defeated the Visigoths. For more than a century, the lands of the future Tunisia were under the rule of the Byzantine Empire.

The Arab army under the command of Uqba ibn Nafi invaded Tunisia. The Arabs founded the city of Kairouan and began to subjugate individual settlements of Christians and Berbers.

by order of the Caliph of the Fatimid dynasty, Ubayd Allah el-Mahdi (“Mahdi” translated from Arabic means “savior” - hence the name of the city).
Construction of the city lasted five years and was completed in 921. Thus, Mahdia became the first capital of the Fatimid Empire, and remained so for 300 years, when the capital was moved to Tunisia. Fortifications were built around the city. The imposing gate (Skifa-el-Kahla), facing the mainland, was built at the narrowest point. An Arab historian compared the city to “a dagger tightly clenched in a fist.”

defensive structures helped to hold back the onslaught of local Kharijite tribes, who tried to conquer the city for almost 8 months.

Mahdia was briefly captured by the troops of the Sicilian King Roger II. During this time, Mahdia lost its political importance, but was still a major trading center.

The Franco-Genoese fleet tried unsuccessfully to capture the city.

in Mahdia there was a stronghold of Dorgut Reis (Turgut-Reis), known in Europe as the bloody pirate Dragut. To the Tunisians, however, he was the “Falcon of Sirte,” a revered leader who fought fiercely against the Spanish protege of Sultan al-Hasan. Dorgut Reis subsequently died during the siege of the fortifications of Malta.

end of the 16th century

The Spaniards, wanting to deprive the pirates of the opportunity to take refuge in Mahdia, destroyed the famous walls. The only thing left of them is the majestic city gate of Skifa el-Kahla (Dark Gate).

Tunisia was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. In 1591, the heads of the local Janissary corps replaced the Sultan's governor with their own protege, called a "dey".

Tunisia became a relatively independent vassal state.

Tunisia was under French protectorate; it had its own coat of arms, anthem, state money and postage stamps. The construction of lyceums, railways and highways, ports, banks, and mining enterprises (lead, phosphorite, iron ore) begins. Mahdia at this time was important primarily as a port city.

Tunisia became an independent monarchical state. Bey Muhammad Lamin became the head of state. On July 25, 1957, the national assembly abolished the monarchy and proclaimed Tunisia a Republic, headed by Habib Bourguiba.

*@date 90s XX century* Mahtia begins to develop as a tourist center. Today it is the country's southernmost mainland coastal resort.

It is no coincidence that Tunisia is considered one of the most popular tourist destinations. This African resort is famous for its sandy beaches, clean sea, and high-quality service. However, approaching Monastir airport, through the airplane window you can only see areas of sandstone and sparse thickets of bushes.

The picture somewhat resembles a Moroccan landscape, but this is only the first impression. It becomes completely different in the city of Mahdia, which is located a hundred kilometers from the airport. This city is the end point of the journey.

Mahdia acquired the status of a lively tourist center not so long ago, about twenty years ago, and the city has a rich and fascinating history. At different times, a Phoenician colony and a Roman settlement existed on the territory of Mahdia, then it became the center of a powerful Arab caliphate. Later, this place was chosen by pirates, here they exchanged their loot for the necessary supplies and rum.
Modern Mahdia is a cozy town with narrow streets and the legendary Arab Medina. The white sandy beaches of the resort center are worthy of special admiration. The place is relatively quiet, an excellent option for families with children. One should not expect noisy fun with beach parties from a holiday in Mahdia; this is not typical for this Arab resort. It is important to remember that, as in any other Arab city, the silence will be broken several times a day by the reading of the Koran.
For those who come to Mahdia for the first time, it may seem that the streets of the city are unkempt and dirty. But this is typical for many Arab countries; in Morocco or Egypt the picture is similar. Tourists need to be prepared for the fact that outside the hotels they will be greeted by dirt, poverty, and garbage on the lawns.

Resort climate

The tourist season lasts in Tunisia from early spring to late autumn. You can travel around this country in winter, but swimming in the cold season is not comfortable; the most you can enjoy is sunbathing.

Average temperatures

In the period from March to May, the air temperature during the day is 24 - 31 C, at night 20 - 27 C, water temperature 23 C.
During the period from September to October, the air temperature during the day is 15 - 18 C, at night 12 - 14 C, water temperature 15 C.
In the period from November to December, the air temperature during the day is 13 - 15 C, at night 9 - 12 C, water temperature 13 C.

Choosing hotels

For a traveler whose purpose of travel is Mahdia, it is important to remember that booking a tour must be taken care of as early as possible. This resort town has about 30 large hotels, several small city hotels, and also a small number of cheap studio apartments, but overall this is not a lot.

But among the available hotels, you can easily find an option for every taste and budget. Every tourist, from lovers of economical holidays to discerning VIP tourists, will be satisfied.

Hotels are located along the coast. Most facilities operate on an all-inclusive basis. They have large territories, their own beaches, and amazingly exotic gardens. Hotel infrastructure usually includes:

pool;
sauna;
laundry;
children's club;
souvenir shop.

For this reason, there is no need to leave the hotel territory; most likely, nothing worthy of the tourist’s interest will be found outside of it.

Some five-star hotels have thalassotherapy centers. Among them:

Vincci Nour Palace,
Golden Tulip Mahdia Palace,
Mahdia Palace Thalasso,
Iberostar Royal El Mansour.

Resort attractions

Tourists will not be bored in Mahdia. In addition to a “lazy” holiday on the beautiful sandy beaches, several attractions of the city are recommended for a mandatory visit. Among them, in first place is the mysterious old city - the Arab Medina.
In the 10th century, impenetrable walls were built around the city.

At that time, it was possible to get into medieval Mahdia through the only gate of Skiffa El Kahla, which translates as “black.” Several centuries later, in 1554, the Spaniards destroyed the walls. Now only the gates of Skiff El Kahla remind of the former greatness of the Arab Caliphate. This is another attraction of the resort.

You should visit the “black gate” not only to admire its monumentality and splendor; there is another reason. Not far from this attraction, a traditional market is held on Fridays. A tourist who comes here is immersed in a unique atmosphere and begins to feel like a hero from one of the fairy tales of “1001 Nights”.

Local weavers, seamstresses, and embroiderers surprise guests of Mahdia with their skills. Right in front of tourists they create silk products, souvenirs, and national costumes. The jewelry market deserves no less attention.
Among the monuments of Mahdia it is worth mentioning:

market on Farhat Hached Square,
old port,
local cemetery,
Borj el-Kebir,
weaving museum,
Dar Hamza Museum.

A visit to these places will allow you to feel the spirit of the country and local flavor.

Medina of Mahdia

Medina is the old part of the city, traditional for Arab countries. It is both a concentration of historical attractions and a traditional market. Here you can see how the local population lives today.

Medina Mahdia is located on a peninsula and is surrounded by powerful walls. It also has its own white sandy beaches, but they are always deserted. Once inside, the tourist finds himself drawn into the whirlpool of life of the local market with its unique atmosphere. Here you can buy a variety of products:

vegetables,
fruits,
seafood,
handicraft goods.

In addition to visiting the market, it will be no less interesting to wander through the narrow streets among the white houses of local residents and end your walk in one of the coastal cafes. It is difficult to get lost in Medina Mahdia. The main street is divided into two parts (right and left), and the lanes intersect at right angles.

Mosque

acquaintance with the monuments of Mahdia will not be complete without visiting the Great Mosque. It was built in the 10th century and is the first Fatimid mosque. According to legend, only the legendary Mahdi and his entourage could enter it;
The mosque has been destroyed and restored many times over the centuries. In the form in which it can be seen now, the mosque was restored in 1965 according to the surviving plans of the 10th century;
The mosque looks like a fortress, has a simple and laconic architecture, and is striking in its monumentality. Inside the building there is a prayer courtyard measuring 42 by 50 m. It is important to note that the porch is the only fragment remaining from the original mosque, built in 916-920.

Museum

The Mahdia Museum is located next to the Skiffa El Kahla Gate. It contains exhibits relating to different periods of history, both of Mahdia and the country as a whole. Many of them were raised from the seabed in the 19th century. These are, for example, two Greek columns that were transported on Roman ships as trophies. Also in the museum you can see exhibits dating back to the Roman period: mosaics, statues, amphorae.

The museum displays objects dating back to the Fatimid era. They talk about the Islamic period of Mahdia's history. These are handicrafts, jewelry, and national costumes.

Museum opening hours:

In summer: from Tuesday to Sunday 09.00 - 13.00 and 15.00 - 19.00, Monday - closed.
In winter: Monday to Sunday 09.00 – 16.00.
The cost of visiting the Mahdia Museum is 5 dinars.
You are allowed to take photographs for a fee of 1 dinar.

Cape

a walk to Cape Africa and the Borj el-Kebir fortress is another interesting route for a Mahdia explorer. The fortress was built in the 16th century during the Fatimid era;
powerful walls in some places reach a thickness of 10 m. The fortress was built as part of the palace. Later it expanded, strengthened and served as a bulwark against the attacks of the Spaniards and the Knights of Malta from the sea;
From the height of the fortress walls there is a beautiful view of the lighthouse, Cape Africa, and the cemetery. It is important to note that in the ancient cemetery some of the burials date back to the 10th century. It is also called the sailors' cemetery.

Mahdia now

The new part of the city is a tourist area with modern hotels and luxurious beaches. It is the snow-white beaches with soft sand that are the hallmark of the resort. Beaches stretch along the coast.

The hotel zone is 5 km away. from the city. You can take public transport or a taxi to the Medina and from there start exploring the sights of the city. It is important to note that all of them are in close proximity to the Medina.