The Souk el-Attarin Bazaar was built in the mid-13th century on the orders of Abu Zakaria, a ruler from the Hafsid dynasty. This market is located close to the Medina (the main square of the city) in the Alexandrian quarter on Attarin Street, very close to the Roman amphitheatre. The fact that it is close to the Zitoun (or al-Zaytoun) Mosque is not accidental - in the past, entry to this building was only allowed for people engaged in noble professions. Merchants certainly belonged to them.
Souk el-Atarine is considered the oldest market in Tunisia. The modern Souk el-Attarin is a colourful quarter of the city, which emerged on the site of a medieval perfume market. From the very beginning of its existence, it specialised in the sale of cosmetics and incense. The first merchants who traded in this market came from the Arab countries of the East and traded extremely expensive and not available to everyone.
Like any Arab bazaar, Souk el-Attarin is a labyrinth of narrow alleys and small streets lined on both sides with a variety of shops and shops. As it was centuries ago, this market is considered to be a place where the most unusual goods are traded, and although it no longer has the variety that it had in the olden days, you can still order a fragrant mixture or buy Indian incense, henna, all kinds of spices, candles and fragrant herbs.
