Mahdia Holidays

Midway between Sousse and Sfax, Mahdia is one of Tunisia’s loveliest port towns. It’s stayed off pretty much everyone’s radar, with the exception of Tunisians, so its charm is largely unspoilt. The historic walled medina, formerly the capital of Tunisia, spreads out across a small peninsula that juts out into the Mediterranean. And northwest is the Zone Touristique, where a phalanx of luxury hotels have sprung up along the seafront.

Tunisians all seem to agree that Mahdia Beach is one of the country’s best. This 10-kilometre crescent of talc-white sand runs from the edge of the medina and well past the Zone Touristique. The central section of beach is backed by the Corniche, a promenade laced with cafés serving up fresh seafood. The luxury hotels up the ante with jet-skis, pedalos, and plenty of sunloungers. Night dives, wreck dives, and international certification courses are also on the cards from the clutch of scuba centres.

Skifa el Kahla, the Medieval gate at the medina’s entrance, is all that remains of the 10th-century walls that encircled Mahdia. Pass through it and you’ll stumble upon a tangle of alleyways that open onto quaint squares like Place du Caire, where Tunisians can be found relaxing over a mint tea. The medina also offers up historic mosques and souks piled high with eye-catching Moorish keepsakes. The fishing port just outside supplies 70% of the country’s fish, plus many of the town’s better restaurants.

The Romans left behind one of their most audacious architectural projects in El Jem, 45 minutes’ drive away. In the 3rd century the town became immensely rich from olive oil and built an amphitheatre almost as big as the Collosseum in Rome. Considering its age, it’s in great shape. Its stands, underground changing rooms and animal quarters are all intact. And just imagine the roar when 45,000 spectators cheered on their favourite gladiator.