Market sights in Tunis
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Souq el-Attarine
The medina markets (souqs) were organised into different commercial areas. Refined trades surrounded the Zaytouna Mosque, while dirtier businesses such as tanners or blacksmiths stayed on the outskirts. The markets are either named after their traditional trade or their founding community, such as Souq el-Grana - the Livornese Jews' Souq. The main markets include the Souq el-Attarine - the Perfume Makers' Souq, dating from the 13th century, near the Zaytouna Mosque.
Today it's largely souvenirs, but there are plenty of essential oils too. The quilted satin baskets on sale are for wedding gifts.
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A
Souq el-Berka
North of the narrow Souq de la Laine, the Wool Souq, barrel-vaulted Souq el-Berka dates from Ottoman times: this was the slave souq where prisoners of Muslim corsairs (pirates) were brought, sometimes from the prison at La Goulette, to be sold from a wooden block. When piracy dwindled, the human market was supplied by sub-Saharan Africa. The trade was abolished in 1846 and it's now a goldsmith's market.
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B
Grand Souq des Chechias
One of the biggest souqs is the Grand Souq des Chechias, where dusty shopfronts are brimful with blood-red hats, and you can see them being shaped and hammered. In the 17th century, this was one of Tunisia's biggest industries. A million red-felt skullcaps, used originally as the basis for building a turban, were made annually by 15,000 craftsmen, and exported worldwide.
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C
Souq des Libraires
Leading from Zaytouna Mosque is the 13th-century Souq des Libraires, the Booksellers' Souq, lined with medersas (Quranic schools) and a hammam (public bathhouse).
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D
Souq el-Trouk
Souq el-Attarine, the Perfume Makers' Souq, leads into the Souq el-Trouk, the Turkish Souq - traditionally the tailors' souq, and still selling some outfits among the souvenirs.
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E
Souq Étouffes
Souq Étouffes runs alongside the Zaytouna Mosque, and was once the elegant cloth market, wide, with green-and-red striped columns; it still sells cloth and clothes.
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Souq de la Laine
Close to the Zaytouna Mosque, the narrow Souq de la Laine, the Wool Souq, is now packed with silver shops.
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