Bab El Khadra, Tunis

Bab El Khadra is one of the gates that lead to the medina of Tunis, located in the second enclosure of the northern suburbs. The original structure was built in 1320 as a simple arch, but was later destroyed and rebuilt by the French colonizers in 1881 to facilitate trade. The new gate, based on the original model, was designed by the French architect Raphaël Guy, and it has a distinctly European style that resembles the gates of a European castle.

The gate was named "Green Gate" or "Gate of Greenery" due to the market gardening and orchards towards Ariana and Carthage cities. During the 16th and 17th centuries, a festival was organized every year, in spring, in a public square near Bab El Khadra called "Rose Square." The Tunisian chronicler, Ibn Dinar, describes the festival as " a meeting point of people of debauchery and idleness. Their motto was infamous recreation; one meets singers, dancers, and charlatans there; one sells dried fruits and sweets there."

Bab El Khadra is known for its impressive size, towering walls, and ornate decoration. Originally designed to be a defensive structure with arrow slits and other defensive features, it also served as a symbol of power and wealth for the rulers of Tunis. Despite its controversial past, Bab El Khadra remains an important historical landmark in Tunis, representing the city's complex blend of French and Arab influences.