When it comes to medinas (medieval old quarters), Morocco garners much of the attention for cities like Marrakesh, Fez, and Tangiers. But the 732-acre core of Tunisia's capital - founded in 698 around the Zitouna Mosque and now counting some 110,000 inhabitants - has been called one of North Africa's most evocative. Apart from souks like this, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is home to some 700 monuments - in addition to Zitouna and other mosques, a plethora of palaces, mausoleums, madrassas, and fountains - and utterly fascinating to explore!


David Stanley