UNESCO & History · UNESCO World Heritage

Kairouan

القيروان

Kairouan

The holy city of the Maghreb

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Great Mosque of Kairouan Panorama - Grande Mosquée de Kairouan Panorama · MAREK SZAREJKO from CLONMEL, IRELAND - POLAND · CC BY-SA 2.0

Founded in 670, Kairouan is home to the Great Mosque of Uqba, a model for mosques across North Africa. Its medina is known for carpets and for the Aghlabid basins.

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History: The first Arab capital of the region, founded by Uqba ibn Nafi. The Aghlabid emirs made it a centre of learning in the 9th century.
Customs: Non-Muslims may visit the mosque courtyard but not the prayer hall. Dress modestly and cover shoulders and knees.
Food: "Makroudh", semolina cakes filled with dates and soaked in honey, is the city's pride.
Best time: October to April. Avoid Friday midday prayers for mosque visits.

An old tradition says that seven pilgrimages to Kairouan were once considered equal to one pilgrimage to Mecca.