🕌 🇹🇳 Tunis | Zitouna Mosque: A Timeless Gem of Faith & History 🌙✨

📍 Address: Rue de la Mosquée Zitouna, Medina of Tunis 🕐 Opening Hours: 10:00 AM–5:25 PM (Daily) | Sundays: 10:00 AM–7:25 PM 🎫 Admission: Free (Donations welcome) 🙏💖 📜 Overview: A Sacred Legacy 🌍✨Iconic Status: One of the Medina of Tunis’s most famous landmarks, the Great Mosque of Zitouna (“Mosque of the Olive Tree”) 🌳🕌 dates back to the late 7th–early 8th century—making it Tunis’s oldest mosque and the second-oldest in the Maghreb (after Kairouan’s Great Mosque). 🤲💫Spiritual Heart: For centuries, it has been a center of Islamic learning, worship, and community, radiating tranquility amid the bustling medina. 🚶♂️ Visitor Experience: Where History Comes Alive Tourists & Locals Alike: Nestled in the heart of Tunis’s UNESCO-listed Medina 🌍🏛️, the mosque draws curious travelers 🌍✨ and faithful worshippers 🤲💫. Many locals stop by after shopping in the souks or praying nearby. Pigeon Paradise: The mosque’s spacious courtyard 🕊️🌿 is home to flocks of pigeons—watch them swirl gracefully as you stroll! 📸🐦 Architectural Marvel: Built with Roman columns 🏛️⚡ (salvaged from ancient Carthage!) and adorned with intricate Arabesque carvings 🎨🌸 on walls and doors, it’s a fusion of eras and empires. 🙏 Respectful Visits: Rules & Etiquette Free Entry, Guided Respect: While admission is free, volunteers 👥💬 gently remind visitors to: Avoid entering the prayer hall (reserved for Muslims) 🚫🕋 Refrain from photographing worshippers during prayers 📵🤲 Dress modestly (cover shoulders/knees) 👗👕 Cultural Sensitivity: This is a living place of worship—silence phones 📵 and speak softly to honor the sacred atmosphere. 🎓 Legacy of Knowledge: Zitouna University Birthplace of Scholars: Like Egypt’s Al-Azhar 🇪🇬📚 and Morocco’s Al-Qarawiyyin 🇲🇦🎓, Zitouna Mosque founded Zitouna University—Tunisia’s premier Islamic institution. Famous Alumni: Many Tunisian leaders, poets, and theologians studied here 🎩✨, shaping the nation’s intellectual identity. 🌟 Why Visit? Step Back in Time: Wander a 1,300-year-old courtyard where Roman stones meet Arab artistry. Soulful Serenity: Escape the medina’s chaos into a haven of peace 🌿🕊️. Free Cultural Treasure: Experience history without spending a dinar! 💸❌ “Zitouna Mosque is not just a building—it’s a living bridge between Tunis’s past and present, where every stone whisers tales of faith, learning, and community.” 🌙📖 #IslamicHeritage #UNESCO #MedinaOfTunis #FreeAttractions #CulturalFusion #HistoricMosques