The Zaytuna mosque
The Zaytuna mosque, or “olive tree” mosque, was initially built in 732 CE on the ruins of an old Roman basilica in the medina of Tunis, Tunisia. Though the original structure no longer exists, literary sources attribute its construction to builder Hassan ibn Nu’man. A century after its construction, the mosque was completely rebuilt by Aghlabid amir Abu Ibrahim Ahmed (reg. 856–863 CE) to emulate another of his large building projects the Great Mosque at Kairouan. The two mosques were reconstructed concurrently between 856 and 863 CE. In 864 renovations were funded by the Abbasid caliph Al — Musta’in. There are further similarities between the plan of the Zaytuna mosque and that of the Great Mosque at Córdoba (784–786, 961–976, 987 AD), a testament to the persisting influence that the Córdoba building had upon mosque design in Northern Africa
The Great Mosque of Kairouan
The Great Mosque of Kairouan , also known as the Mosque of Uqba , is a mosque situated in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Kairouan, Tunisia and is one of the most impressive and largest Islamic monuments in North Africa.
Established by the Arab general Uqba ibn Nafi in the year 50 AH (670AD/CE) at the founding of the city of Kairouan, the mosque occupies an area of over 9,000 square metres (97,000 sq ft). It is one of the oldest places of worship in the Islamic world, and is a model for all later mosques in the Maghreb. Its perimeter, of about 405 metres (1,329 ft), contains a hypostyle prayer hall, a marble-paved courtyard and a square minaret. In addition to its spiritual prestige,the Mosque of Uqba is one of the masterpieces of Islamic architecture,notable among other things for the first Islamic use of the horseshoe arch.
El Ghriba synagogue
The annual Jewish pilgrimage to the ancient Ghriba synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba has been called off because of the coronavirus pandemic, the organizers said Tuesday.
Beginning on the Jewish festival of Lag B’Omer, 33 days after the start of Passover, the pilgrimage — which had been scheduled for May 7–13 — usually attracts thousands of Jewish worshipers from across the world.
But Ghriba, the oldest synagogue in Africa the synagogue, believed to have been founded in 586 BCE by Jews fleeing the destruction of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, has been shut as part of steps to curb the spread of coronavirus which has infected almost 900 people and cost 38 lives in Tunisia.
Acropolium of Carthage
The Arcopallium, also known as Saint Louis Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Saint-Louis de Carthage), is a Roman Catholic church located in Carthage, Tunisia.
The cathedral sits on the peak of Byrsa Hill, near the ruins of the ancient Punic and then Roman city. It was built atop the ruins of an old temple dedicated to Eshmun, the Punic god of healing. The edifice can still be accessed from the basement.
Since 1993, the cathedral has been known as the “Acropolium”. It is no longer used for worship, but instead hosts public events or concerts of Tunisian music and classical music. Currently, the only Roman Catholic cathedral operating in Tunisia is the Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul in Tunis.
Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul
Situated at “Place de l’Indépendence in Ville Nouvelle”, the Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul is a Roman Catholic church in Tunis dedicated to the patron saint of charity.
The church was built in a mixture of styles, including Moorish revival, Gothic revival, and Neo-Byzantine architectural traditions. Construction began in 1893 and the church was opened at Christmas 1897. Imposing and unique, it is the largest surviving building from Tunis’ colonial era and is still a living church thanks to a community of foreigners. Directly opposite is the French embassy, built in colonial times as residence of the French governor.
