Youssef Dey Mosque, Ottoman mosque in Medina district, Tunis, Tunisia
The Youssef Dey Mosque is a house of prayer in Tunis's Medina district featuring a central dome held up by marble columns. Inside, the walls and ceilings are covered with intricate tile patterns and ornamental decorations throughout the prayer hall.
It was built in the late 1500s during Ottoman rule and named after Youssef Dey, the governor of Tunis at that time. This period marked a time of naval growth and increasing regional influence for the area.
The mosque displays Ottoman and North African craftsmanship in its decorative tiles and patterns that visitors can observe today. These ornamental details show how local artisans blended traditions from different periods into a unified design.
Visitors should remove their shoes before entering the prayer hall, and women should cover their heads with scarves available at the entrance. It is best to visit during quiet times to show respect to those praying and maintain the calm of the space.
The building has multiple entrances positioned at different levels that follow the natural slope of the surrounding land. This thoughtful design allows people to move through the structure naturally despite the uneven terrain beneath it.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.