Madrasa of El Bachia, Historical madrasa in Medina of Tunis, Tunisia
Madrasa of El Bachia is an Islamic school in the Medina of Tunis that arranges thirteen student rooms around a central courtyard, with a prayer hall and library positioned across from the rooms. The spaces flow around this courtyard core, creating a compact self-contained building for learning and worship.
This educational institution was founded in 1752 during the Husseinite dynasty under Abu al-Hasan Ali Pasha and was built specifically for students following the Hanafi school of Islamic law. After undergoing significant renovations over the centuries, it has been adapted to new uses while retaining its original layout.
The building shows how Islamic education spaces were designed, with its central courtyard connecting student rooms, prayer areas, and study spaces that students moved through during their daily routines.
The building sits on Rue de la Bibliothèque near the Zitouna Mosque and is relatively easy to find while walking through the Medina. Visitors should note that it currently serves as a vocational training center, so access inside may be limited or require checking ahead before planning a visit.
The institution was supported by forty-six religious endowments that provided scholarships to students who had to follow strict attendance rules. Notably, students could receive one year away for pilgrimage, showing how the school built its funding system around honoring religious obligations of its learners.
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