Souk Es Sabbaghine

Souk Es Sabbaghine (English: Dyers market) is one of the souks of the medina of Tunis.

Location

The souk is situated at the outskirts of the medina, far from the center where the Al-Zaytuna Mosque is situated, since dyeing is considered a polluting activity. The souk is a continuation of Souk El Blat and may also be accessed from Bab El Jazira.

History

The name of Souk Es Sabbaghine, or Souk of Dyers, is due to its original function as the souk of wool, cotton and silk dyeing^[1] which is situated next to a previously existing fountain.

Two Italian doctors constructed a dispensary at this souk in 1887 called Infermeria Santa Margherita^[2] which supported the poor from Italian and Maltese communities.

Products

Products sold at the souk include clothing, shoes as well as fish and meat.

Monuments

Harmel Mosque, also known as Bab Al Jazira Mosque is located in souk Es Sabbaghine.

Commemorative sign of the Harmel Mosque
Entrance of the mosque
Inscription at the entrance
Minaret of the mosque

El Jedid Mosque is situated in the center of the souk.

Commemorative sign of the mosque
Main entrance of the mosque
Minaret of the mosque
Commemorative sign of the madrasa
Entrance of the madrasa

Notes and references

^ Sebag, Paul (1998). Tunis, histoire d'une ville (in French). Paris: L'Harmattan. pp. 366–367.
^ "Historique de l'hôpital". hopital-h-thameur.rns.tn (in French). Retrieved 10 January 2016.