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Mule moving goods in the car-free Medina in Fes, Morocco

A medina quarter (Arabic: المدينة القديمة‎) is a distinct city section found in many North African cities. The medina is typically walled, contains many narrow and maze-like streets, and was built by Arabs as far back as the 9th century CE. The word "medina" (or Médina) (Arabic: مدينة‎, madīna) itself simply means "city" or "town" in modern day Arabic.

Medinas often contain historical fountains, palaces, and mosques. The monuments are preserved for their cultural significance (and are also a draw for tourists).

Because of the very narrow streets, medinas are free from car traffic, and in some cases even motorcycle and bicycle traffic. The streets can be less than a metre wide. This makes them unique among highly populated urban centres. Some medinas were also used to confuse and slow down invaders because of how narrow and winding they are.

[edit] Locations of existing medinas

• Algiers, Algeria The Casbah (Kasbah, Qasbah) of Algiers is a medina named after its fortress.
• Benghazi, Libya
• Casablanca, Morocco
• Chefchaouen, Morocco
• Dakar, Senegal
• Darnah, Libya
• Essaouira, Morocco
• Fes, Morocco is the largest medina in the world
• Gharyan, Libya
• Hammamet, Tunisia
• Kairouan, Tunisia
• Mahdia, Tunisia
• Marrakesh, Morocco
• Mdina, Malta has medina-like features from its past Arab rulers
• Meknes, Morocco
• Rabat, Morocco
• Sousse, Tunisia
• Tangier, Morocco
• Tétouan, Morocco
• Misratah, Libya
• Tozeur, Tunisia
• Tripoli, Libya
• Tobruk, Libya
• Tunis, Tunisia
• Zliten, Libya
• Istanbul, Turkey
• Izmir, Turkey

[edit] Locations of ruined medinas

• Alhambra, Spain
• Azahara, Spain

[edit] External links

• Map of Tunis medina
• Carfree Cities: Morocco