Mahdia is located in the eastern part of the Republic of Tunisia, 200 km south of the capital, Tunis, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on three sides. It is connected to the African continent from the west. Mahdia was established around the year 912 AD, when the Caliph Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi, the first of the Fatimid caliphs, emigrated to the city of Roqada, in which he ended the rule of Banu al-Aghlab, and decided to choose a new capital for the Fatimid state, and he was present at that time, in what is called Tunisia today, so he chose the location of the head of Africa, which is an impregnable peninsula, and one of the ancient Carthaginian ports, and the name Mahdia was taken for it. He built walls around the city, and prepared a corridor that made it a fortified entrance with a huge door. The city included, in addition to the Prince’s Palace, the Great Mosque, the administration, and the shops of craftsmen including weavers, blacksmiths, jewelers and merchants.
The city of Mahdia is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Arab world, and in the Mediterranean basin, and has many historical, tourist and cultural landmarks. Its distinguished location on the seashore gives it a beautiful luster and stunning landscapes, which attract tourists from all over the world.
