Mahdia

Mahdia occupies a narrow peninsula about 60 km south of Monastir. It was founded in 916 by Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi as the first capital of the Fatimid caliphate, before the dynasty moved on to found Cairo. The old town is entered through the Skifa el Kahla, a massive fortified gateway. Inside are the Great Mosque, rebuilt in the 1960s following its 10th-century plan, quiet whitewashed lanes and cafés on a small square. At the tip of the peninsula, the 16th-century Borj el Kebir fort overlooks a seaside cemetery and the lighthouse. Mahdia is also known for silk weaving and its long sandy beaches.