Private Kairouan & Sbeitla Historical Tour: Discover Roman & Islamic Heritage

Away from the coast, in a landscape of steppes, Kairouan is a fascinating city still anchored in a distant past. One of Islam’s holy cities, it was the first capital of the Maghreb. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, it conceals several marvels and it is also Known as Capital of traditional hand made Carpets. Pick up from your place of residence and departure to el kairouan: Visit the Great Mosque: non-Muslims are allowed to enter the courtyard and to observe the prayer hall, a majestic forest of arches and ancient columns. Visitors can also climb the minaret, inspired by the lighthouse of Alexandria. You will be in awe of the power and simplicity of this 9th century architecture. Visit: the graceful Zaouïa Sidi Saheb or “Mosque of the Barber” where the large patios are decorated with brightly coloured tiles. Outside of the city, don’t miss the great museum of Raqqada: there you can see ceramics with metallic reflections, gold coins and pages of the Koran dating back to the first centuries in the city’s history. Discover the Aghlabid Basin: Considered the largest water works in the Muslim world, they were built in the ninth century and earned Kairouan the name "City of tanks". It is also impossible to forget the numerous workshops where the most famous knotted pile carpets in Tunisia are made.

Visit of Sbeitla a small town in the central west region of Tunisia, 250km from Tunis. It is known for its remarkable Roman site and its Capitol, made up of not one but three temples, dedicated to Minerva, Jupiter and Juno, the gods who protected Rome. It huge Basilica of Vitalis has a stunning basin for baptisms covered in mosaics. In the countryside, the El Gousset archways are all that remain of a large church, 33 metres long, reminding us that Tunisia was once a key stronghold for Christians in the West.