The Zitouna Cipher — Decode Islam's Hidden Foundation

Your quest begins at Bab El Bhar, also known as the Porte de France. Built between 1884 and 1885 by the French protectorate authorities, this 20-meter-high gate, in neo-Moorish style with its 8-meter-wide central arch, marks the main entrance to the medina from Avenue Habib Bourguiba. Restored in 2010 as part of the Tunis medina rehabilitation project, it invites you to cross the threshold of a past where Umayyad and Hafsid influences shaped the heritage of Greater Tunis. Here, the first clues of your mission await, hidden in the patterns of its facade.

Continue your journey to Souk El Attarine, the souk of perfumers and grocers, developed in the 14th century under the Hafsids. This souk, approximately 200 meters long, is recognizable by its broken barrel vaults, typical of Hafsid architecture. Its name, 'attarine,' refers to its specialization in essential oils and spices since the Middle Ages. Restored in 2003, it testifies to the commercial and cultural richness of the Tunis medina, a UNESCO site since 1979. Your mission drives you to find a rare ingredient there, linked to an ancient Umayyad ritual.

Your path then leads you to the Zitouna Mosque, a pillar of Islamic heritage and a major Quranic site. Founded around 732 by Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik on an older 7th-century oratory, it is at the heart of your quest. Its central patio of 4,880 m² is surrounded by 160 ancient marble columns, recycled from Carthaginian and Roman sites. The minaret, erected in 1231 under the Hafsids, stands 35 meters high. A UNESCO site since 1979, it housed a Quranic university from the 9th century, making Tunis a vital center of Islamic learning.

The Madrasa Slimania, founded in 1754 by Ali Pacha, the last Husainid Bey of Tunis, represents another milestone in Islamic education within the Tunis medina. Its Ottoman architectural style, with a 300 m² inner courtyard and two floors of student cells, is integrated into the Zitouna mosque complex. It functioned as a Quranic school until the 20th century and was restored in 1980. Here, you must find the notes of a former student, who hid part of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik's enigma within the sacred texts.

Your exploration culminates at Government Square, the former central square of the medina, named during the French protectorate. Surrounded by 18th-century Ottoman buildings, including Dar El Bey, it was the scene of historical gatherings, such as the Husainid revolt of 1811. With its surface area of approximately 5,000 m² and its central fountain dating from 1830, it symbolizes the power and history of Tunis. Finally, the Central Market of Tunis, built in 1891 by architect Adrien Rey and classified as a historical monument in 1993, offers a glimpse into the city's riches. Your quest has taken you through time, exploring Hafsid and Umayyad Islamic heritage, and you leave with an understanding of the foundations of Tunis, a city of a thousand faces and a thousand stories.