Many visitors who make the journey into the heartlands of Tunisia for the holy city of Kairouan may find themselves returning not once, not twice, but seven times—because that’s how many that’s required for pilgrims to match an expedition to Mecca itself. And if that doesn’t paint a sufficient picture of just how revered this ancient city is, then you only have to look at that Great Mosque with its grand marble colonnades, beautifully touched arabesque archways and soaring minarets.
Of course Kairouan’s formidable wealth of Maghreb architecture, the honoured tombs of Sidi Sahab, the Bi'ir Barouta and the colossal engineering masterpieces of the Basin of the Aghlabids make this dusty desert city a veritable must for history buffs touring the Barbary States. But it is certainly a cultural hotspot too, touting engaging medina markets, bustling Berber streets and a labyrinthine web of walled medieval pathways to explore.
Others come purely for the carpets, which as any Kairouan tourist guide will tell you, are hailed as some of the finest in all of North Africa. So, get your haggling hat and prepare for some bartering, Tunisia style.