Life is returning to the old quarter of Tunis after a major renovation project created new economic opportunities while preserving the city's heritage.
The old medina in Tunis is being renovated after over 40 years of disrepair. From the government square near the Kasbah to the Zitouna Mosque, passing along Avenue Pacha in the Tunisian capital and down to Place Sidi Brahim Riahi, the city is changing colours.
In the 1960s the old city was the heart of Tunisian craftsmanship, but a wave of migration out of the city for the more comfortable suburbs led to a different character in the historic district. New resident came in from outlying villages to find work in the capital.
The Arab-style multi-room houses of the ancient city were turned into collective, distorted buildings devoid of architectural character. Moreover, historical monuments and cultural centres were at risk of being ruined, if not for the intervention by residents and the Association of the Maintenance of the City, which was founded in 1966.
"In the sixties there was a presidential project to demolish the old city completely in order to link Zitouna Mosque to Avenue Bab Bahr," said heritage researcher Abd Satar Amamou.
"Intellectuals and local residents founded the City Maintenance Association, which had a primary role in raising awareness of the importance of the city. The idea was to attract people to the city through publicity; since the early eighties, native inhabitants began to return to the city and some restaurants opened like Dar Al-Jeld, that belongs to the family of Awlad El-Kafi, and then the Festival of Medina was founded in the city."
The ancient city, which has more than 470 historic landmarks and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been a focus of the World Bank since the 1970s. The Bank has financed some 241 projects for the rehabilitation of the city, at a cost of three billion euros.
Among the goals cited by the World Bank were maintaining the heritage of the city, creating economic development through traditional crafts and tourism and the improvement of living conditions for residents.
"A few years ago, life started returning to the city and a large number of shops specialised in traditional industries, cultural cafes and especially graduates from the institutes of Crafts and Fine Arts started to open their doors in the antique city. Many of these graduates found a living here," Houda, a shopkeeper, told Magharebia.
The Municipality of Tunis has joined forces with the City Maintenance Association to create a cultural and tourist route that extends over a kilometre from the Zitouna mosque to Place Sidi Brahim Riahi at a cost of two million euros.
The project covered all aspects of restoration, from electricity and lighting to the rebuilding of historic monuments. The engineers were thorough in the process of restoration, re-painting doors and windows with their ancient style and refining the arches and vaults, and sebbat, or covered corridors.
Public squares were also re-configured to be adequate for hosting music shows. A number of restaurants and cafes rented the large and welcoming spaces to provide all kinds of drinks and fresh, tasty food.
"Electricity wires hanging from the walls are no longer there and they have renovated the exteriors of the buildings and made them look beautiful and attractive, especially at night," said Mahmoud Bouchrara, who owns a shoe shop in the old quarter. "Tourists never stop visiting the ancient city. It has a special elegance."
The medina is also home to a number of important landmarks, including an 18th century music school and several markets, including the Kasbah Avenue Souk, which dates back seven centuries.
Souad Mahbouli, who is from the Cultural Committee of the city of Tunis, said "I'm very proud of this city, which have started to attract many visitors in the cultural spaces".
"The area is very beautiful, I visited it 20 years ago and it was different, now they must consider the restoration of the remainder of the city, this is good for Tunisia," Marie, a French tourist said.
The Tunisian government is betting on these types of projects to attract sightseers and other visitors.
"This project falls under the development of cultural tourism. It reflects the daily life of the ancient city and it is a very nice experience to revive the heritage," explained Seif Allah Hbabou from the Ministry of Tourism.
The ministry hopes to build on the old medina concept in areas such as Nabeul and Hammamet.
"Beautiful architecture and amazing atmosphere for everybody, this is what was missing in the city," Amel added.
Zoubeir Lassram, director of the Medina festival, said, "For years we have waited and wished for this cultural and touristic activity. This city is the common memory of all the people of Tunisia and it has a great history."
© Magharebia.com 2010
