Madrasa of Ech Chamaiya, Historical madrasa in Medina of Tunis, Tunisia
Madrasa of Ech Chamaiya is a school building in the Medina of Tunis with a square courtyard and rooms arranged along its sides. The upper floor contains nineteen student bedrooms, and vaulted passages run around the courtyard.
This school was built between 1236 and 1249 under Hafsid Sultan Abu Zakariya Yahya and was the first madrasa in the Maghreb region. In the 17th century, it underwent major redesign under Ahmed Khuja, a later ruler of Tunis.
The name refers to the leather and craft trade that defined this place and remains visible in the workshops today. Visitors can watch artisans at work, continuing traditions that have shaped daily life in the Medina for centuries.
The building now functions as a crafts center where visitors can watch leather and shoe production firsthand. It is located within the Medina and is accessible on foot, especially when exploring the narrow streets of the old city.
The building was restored in the 1990s while keeping its historical structure intact, yet it became a living workspace for artisans. This transformation shows how old structures can serve new purposes while remaining connected to their original craft traditions.
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