Matmata Tunis, Matmata Tunisia

Na jugu Tunisa, nedaleko od grada Gabesa u planinskoj pustinji nalazi se selo Matmata. Ovo tajanstveno mesto sakrilo se pod zemljom pre mnogo vekova.



At the south of Tunisia not far away from town Gabes in the mountain desert there is a village Matmata. This mysterious place hid under ground many centuries ago.


Berberi, prvobitno lokalno stanovništvo koje tu živi i danas, osmislilo je način kako da se zaštiti od vrućine, hladnoće I neprijatelja koji su harali tim prostorima. Svoje kuće sagradili su pod zemljom. U zemlji bi iskopali rupu 5 do 10 m dubine I isto tolike širine. Ta kružna površina od desetak metara prečnika na dnu rupe predstavljala je dvorište iz koga se ulazi u male bočno iskopane pećine koje su zapravo prostorije kuće.

Berbers, ancient local inhabitants who live there even today, found out the way how to protect themselves from heat, cold and enemies who were devastating that territory. They built their houses under the ground. They would dig a hole 5 to 10m deep and about that size wide. That circle area of 10m diameter at the bottom was a yard from where small caves were dug in walls. Those small caves were rooms of the house.

Svaka pećina ima namenu. Jedna je kuhinja, druga je kupatilo a ostale su sobe za spavanje. Ako leti posetite ovakav berberski dom primetićete da u prostorijama vlada optimalna mikro klima u poređenju sa pustinjskom vrelinom u dvorištu.
Each cave had a purpose. One was a kitchen, another was a bathroom and others were bedrooms. If you visit this Berber home during summer time you will notice that rooms have optimal micro climate comparing to desert heat in the yard.


Kuća je povezana sa spoljašnjim svetom jednim jedinim uzanim hodnikom čiji ulaz stoji vešto sakriven I uklopljen u pejzaž. Ljubazni domaćini poslužiće vas maslinovim uljem, tabunom (domaći pita hleb) I medom koje prave sami. Kao osveženje dobićete tradicionalni jako zaslađen čaj od nane. Budući da porodice koje još žive u ovoj oblasti uglavnom žive od turizma bilo bi dobro da ukućanima ostavite bakšiš ili da kupite neki od ručnih radova. Ovo trogloditsko naselje jedinstveno je iako podzemnih naseobina ima na nekoliko lokaliteta u svetu.
The house is connected to the external world with only one narrow corridor. The entrance to the corridor is skillfully hidden and blended into landscape. Kind hosts will treat you with home- made olive oil, tabouna (traditional oven baked bread) and honey. To refresh from heat you`ll be offered traditional very sweet mint tea. Since families who still live in this area live mostly on money that tourists spend it would be nice to leave some tips or to buy one of handicrafts made at the house. This troglodyte colony is unique even though there are several ancient underground settlements worldwide.


Pejzaž Matmate liči na površinu nenaseljene planete ili Meseca pa je kao takav poslužio za snimanje čuvenog filmskog serijala “Ratovi zvezda”. Mnoge kuće pretvorene su za potrebe turizma u restorane I hotele. U nekim od ovakvih hotela spavaćete doslovce u onižoj pećini na improvizovanom madracu koji se nalazi na zemlji. Berberi su izrazito lep I ponosan narod koji je tokom više hiljda godina skoro iščezao usled mešanja sa raznim osvajačima koji su boravili na tlu današnjeg Tunisa. Ako ikad poželite da osetite makar mali deo života ovog starog naroda I da na trenutak budete lepi stasiti Berber ili lepa mistična Berberka, provedite jednu noć u nekoj od kuća Matmate!
Landscape of Matmata region looks like a surface of an uninhabited planet or the Moon so it served as a spot where filming of famous film series “Star Wars” took place. In order to develop tourism many of these houses were converted into restaurants and hotels. In some of those hotels you will literally sleep in a low cave on an improvised mattress placed on the ground. Berbers are extremely beautiful and proud people who are after several thousand years nearly disappeared due to mixing with various invaders that were staying at the territory of today`s Tunisia. If you ever wish to sense just a bit of life of this ancient people, if you ever wish to be for a moment beautiful Berber or a mysterious Berber woman come and spend the night in Matmata house!

Mahdija, Medina, Tunis, Mahdia,Medina Tunisia

U zemlji lepih ljudi, toplog mora I vrele pustinje postoji malo mesto uzbudljive prošlosti. Zove se Mahdija.Nalazi se u Tunisu, 60km južno od aerodroma u Monastiru I pruža se duž tirkizne plaže posute belim debelim peskom. U centru grada polako živi stara Medina puna malenih radnji u kojima se prodaje mnoštvo različitih stvari.


In a land of beautiful people, warm sea and hot desert there is a small place with exciting history. It name is Mahdia. It is situated in Tunisia some 65km south of Monastir airport and stretches along turquoise beaches with white sends. In the center of the city lives slowly old Medina full of tiny little shops where lot of various things can be found.

U Medinu se ulazi kroz veliku kamenu kapiju Skifa El- Kahla, ostatak iz desetog veka u kom je grad nastao..
At the entrance to the Medina a massive stone gate stands. It is Skifa El Kahla the original remain from 10th century, time when town was founded.



U centru Medine pod krošnjama
debelog hlada, lokalno stanovništvo uživa u toplim noćima pijući čaj od nane sa pinjolama I mladim bademima. U vazduhu leluja slatki miris nargila. Mirišu mešane jabuke, breskve I duvan.

In the midpoint of Medina, under the treetops, in thick shadows locals enjoy warm nights, sipping mint tea with pine nuts or young almonds. A sweet smell of nargile (sheesha) hovers through the air. Mixed apples, peaches and tobacco smell everywhere around.



Iz kafea El Medina pruža se pogled na Veliku Džamiju. Ova građevina je replika originalne džamije koju je početkom desetog veka podigao El Mahdi, kalif fatimidske dinastije koji je grad I osnovao. Arhitektura džamije je neobična, jer po ugledu na džamije iz desetog veka, nema minarete.

From café El Medina a magnificent Great Mosque can be observed. This building is a replica of original mosque erected at the beginning of 10th century by El Mahdi, Fatimid caliph, who founded Mahdia. Architecture of the mosque is unusual because it has no minarets (mosques in 10th century didn`t have minarets).


Petak je najsvetiji dan u Islamu te mnoštvo sveta dolazi na molitvu u veliku džamiju. Uz vernike u grad dolaze I trgovci pa je petkom oko Medine poređano bezbroj malih stolova I štandova sa najraznovrsnijom robom. Petak je veliki pijačni dan u Mahdiji I stoga prilika da se kupac utopi u šarenilo orijentalnog bazara.

Friday is the holiest day in Islam so lot of people comes to pray in the mosque. Along with believers traders comes to town so on Friday a number of small tables and stands are placed around Medina. Friday is a big market day and the chance for shopping lovers to blend in colorful oriental bazaar.

Uz bočni zid džamije nalazi se kafe Kiros u kom se u orijentalnom ambijentu obasjanom roze svetlošću može uživati u pravom italijanskom espresu.
Next to the side wall of the mosque there is a café Kiros where in oriental ambient illuminated by pink light one can enjoy in a real Italian espresso.








Na vrhu poluostrva, na kom Mahdija počiva, nalazi se tvrđava iz 16. veka. Sagrađena je na mestu gde je nekada bila El Mahdijeva palata. Sa tvrđave se pruža veličanstven pogled na more I oklolinu.
At the top of peninsula where Mahdia is situated there is a fortress from 16th century. It was built at the spot where centuries ago was El Mahdi`s palace. From the top of the fortress visitors can experience great view to the sea and surrounding area.

Mahdija je najpoznatija po svojim plažama. Zbog plavog čistog mora I belog peska zovu je još I Karibi Mediterana.
Mahdia is best known for it`s beaches. Because of the blue clear sea and white send beaches it is also called Caribbean of the Mediterranean sea!