Kairouan is a unique city in Tunisia, set away from the coast and anchored in a distant past. One of Islam’s holy cities, it was the first capital of the Maghreb. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, Kairouan conceals several significant places such as the Medina, the Great Mosque, the Aghlabid Basins, mausoleum of Sidi Saheb decorated with ceramic tiles and more. Visitors can delve into the Medina through a monumental gate, between the displays of the little merchants of the souks. Visitors can also climb the minaret, inspired by the lighthouse of Alexandria. Outside of the city, the museum of Raqqada features ceramics with metallic reflections, gold coins and pages of the Koran dating back to the first centuries in the city’s history. Other activities in and around the city include hiking, caving and hunting in the mountain areas, or watching birds gather on the saltwater lakes.