Tunisia # 5 Kairouan cont.

The Aghlabid Pools
To the north of the Kasbah in Kairouan, are the Aghlabid Basins which were built in the 9th century and restored 1969. These two pools (originally there were more) stored water for the Aghlabid palace which occupied the site of the present-day cemetery. The water was brought by an aqueduct from Djebel Cherichera, (22 miles) away. The smaller basin was a settling tank, from which the water flowed into the larger one which had a capacity of about 11 million gallons. In the center of the larger pool is the base of a pavilion in which the Aghlabid rulers used to relax (not actually this one).

Below thew Islamic cemetary.

We didn't have very long to explore the medina but explored a couple of the narrow streets just inside the walls of the city.

Barber shops were busy, giving customers an extra close shave and were open to the street as you can see from the photo below.

Below 'hubble bubble pipes' for sale, alongside some hats and clothes.

See how close the houses are built.

Below a spice stall.

It was interesting to see the local people out buying from the stalls.

The pottery was very colourful and we would have loved to bring back a Tagine because they were really inexpensive but quite bulky for the suitcase.

Another carpet shop, but not the one we actually visited.

Archives:
2008: Hokey Pokey
2007: I might be in trouble
2006: Curried Pumpkin Soup

Tunisia # 2 Great Mosque of Kairouan

We arrived in Tunis at dusk and the sun was just setting as we boarded the coach and left the airport to head to our hotel at Gammarth.

The following day we were up early to travel to Kairouan. Everywhere we went we had to pay to take photos, it was only 50 pence for each place but over a week this mounted up. The flag was on the top of one of the ticket offices, where we climbed up to look at the view.

First we visited the Great Mosque of Kairouan (Mosque of Uqba). Erected on the site of the first Islamic oratory built in the Maghreb by ‘Uqba ibn Nafi, the Great Mosque of Kairouan was later renovated by Hassan ibn Nu’man before being entirely rebuilt by the Aghlabid prince Ziyadat Allah I.
It is the oldest and most prestigious place of worship in the Muslim West, and was used as the architectural model for most of the mosques built in Ifriqiya before the arrival of the Ottomans. With its variety of forms and the wealth of its decorative repertoire, which combines Byzantine and Mesopotamian influences, it embodies most facets of the Kairouanese school.

These pictures show the massive minaret of the mosque (8th-9th century). You can just see the sundial in the courtyard.

Below the facade of the prayer hall.

Below The Prayer Hall.

Below you can see the magnificent Chandeliers in the central nave of the prayer hall (we were not allowed inside but could look from the door). Women have a separate entrance and have their own area at the rear of the mosque.

Colonnade abutting the prayer hall (not sure if you can see the bike that was parked by one of the pillars.

Arches in a gallery below.

Beautiful wooden doors at the entrance to the prayer hall.

Below the rainwater collector.

School children were visiting and they were very friendly and wanted their pictures taken.

Archives:
2008: Postcard from Dublin-2
2007: Childhood Book
2006: Do you serve cocktails