Souk El Kmach
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Porte_du_souk_des_%C3%89toffes.jpg/220px-Porte_du_souk_des_%C3%89toffes.jpg)
Souk El Kmach (Arabic: سوق القماش) or the fabrics market is one of the most important souks of the medina of Tunis. It is the place where fabrics and tissues are sold, whether they are made in Tunisia or luxury products especially imported like silk or linen.[1]
History
The souk was constructed at the order of the Hafsid sovereign Abou Amr Uthman in the 15th century at the place of an older souk, namely Souk El Rammadine.
Location
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Souk_-_Tunis.jpg/220px-Souk_-_Tunis.jpg)
Souk El Kmach goes along with the western facade of the Al-Zaytuna Mosque. In fact, it offers easy access to the mosque through three doors. Also, it is bounded by three other souks : Souk El Trouk, Souk El Leffa and Souk El Nissa.
Two doors provide direct access to Souk El Kmach : Souk El Attarine's is known for its two Spanish-Maghrebi capitals columns. Bab Souk El Kmach is a gate.
Description
The souk has three aisles separated by two rows of columns. The one at the centre allows traffic while the two lateral aisles give access to the stores. All the souk is covered by longitudinal cradles. Yet, some skylights in the central vault illuminate the place. This lighting system can be found in the stores of the souk, too. Among the monuments of this souk are the madrasa Mouradiya and the zawiya of the savant Ibn Asfour.
References
- ^ "Médina de Tunis". inp.rnrt.tn (in French). Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- v
- t
- e
- Souk Al Asr
- Souk de la Commission
- Souk Ech-Chaouachine
- Souk Edabaghine
- Souk El Attarine
- Souk El Azzafine
- Souk El Bechmak
- Souk El Beransia
- Souk El Berka
- Souk El Bey
- Souk El Blaghgia
- Souk El Blat
- Souk El Dziria
- Souk El Fekka
- Souk El Ghrabliyya
- Souk El Ghraiyer
- Souk El Grana
- Souk El Haddadine
- Souk El Jedid
- Souk El Kachachine
- Souk El Kebabjia
- Souk El Kmach
- Souk El Kouafi
- Souk El Koutbiya
- Souk El Leffa
- Souk El Marr
- Souk El Nissa
- Souk El Ouzar
- Souk El Sagha
- Souk El Souf
- Souk El Trouk
- Souk En Nhas
- Souk Erbaa
- Souk Es Sabbaghine
- Souk Es Sabbaghine El Saghir
- Souk Es Sekajine
- Souk Sidi Boumendil
- Souk Sidi Mahrez
- Souk Sidi Sridek
- Souk Es Sarragine
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%82_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%8A%D9%86.jpg/40px-%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%82_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%8A%D9%86.jpg)