In the context of a sustainable urban strategy that is continuously refined and developed by the Association for the Safeguarding of the Medina of Tunis (ASM) and based on the promotion of heritage and its diverse aspects, an urban signposts project was launched in 2016. Its objective is to increase the attractiveness of monuments, many of which still remain unknown, and to turn the medina into a hub for cultural, artistic and touristic opportunities.
This effort is comprised of three essential initiatives:
- ‘Médinapédia’: The project to update online information was carried out in 2016 as a result of a collaboration between ASM and Carthagina (Tunisian Organisation for the Preservation and Enhancement of Tangible and Intangible Heritage). The program helps promote the visibility of the medina of Tunis in the international sphere, through the correction, creation and editing of articles on Wikipedia related to the historical city and its prestigious monuments.
- ‘A Monument, an Identity’: Thanks to the cooperation between ASM and the Kamel Lazaar Foundation (KLF), the project was carried out in 2017 with the aim of promoting the cultural identity and the visibility of the historical centre of the medina. It is a pilot project that employs modern communication technologies. Digital signposts were mounted on the walls of five historic monuments (Dar Lasram, Palais Kheireddine, Dar Ben Achour, Medersa Bir El Hajjar and Souk des Chéchias) with a QR code that is readable via smartphones and provides access to information related to these edifices by redirecting visitors to the relevant Wikipedia pages. The logo, Tunisian Heritage, was created as part of the endeavour in order to offer a unified and harmonious identity for the entire project.
- ‘Vous en dire long sur la Médina de Tunis‘ (Telling You More About the Medina of Tunis): The project was launched by ASM during the summer of 2017, and secured a funding agreement from MedCities of the Regional Council of Barcelona in Spain. In addition to creating new thematic tours, its aim is to develop material for the promotion of the historical centre of the city to highlight its major historic monuments, as well as cultural spaces and workshops of creative professions.
Press Release edited by Mr. Zoubeïr Mouhli, General Manager of ASM.
