Kasbah
The kasbah was a military garrison before and during the French Protectorate 1881-1956. The French influence buildings, etc. has been removed and the Kasbah now hosts rooms of displays relating the the industry for which Sfax is famous; construction, metalwork and the famous Bourj and Djenes of Sfax all have their own rooms. Additionally there is a display of religious architecture and some documents in another room, with an underground mosque area also worth a vist. Definitely a HIGHlight is the view from the top of either of the towers that form part of the Kasbah.
Archaeological Museum
The ground floor of the City Hall hosts an impressive collection of mosaics from the region, in particular the Roman towns of Taparura where Sfax now is and Thaenae now Thyna, 11km west of Sfax.
Dar Djellouli
The Djellouli family has provided Sfax with a number of its governors over the years, particularly during the 1700s and 1800s. Dar Djellouli is also referred to as the Governor's Mansion, and is an example of traditional Medina architecture. It is built around a courtyard that is open to the sky, with two floors of balconies on four sides looking down on it. The rooms open onto these balconies, and house cultural items from the 1800s and even earlier. Costumes from the period can be viewed, as well as examples of cooking, calligraphy, embroidery, perfume distillation and furniture.
Café Diwan
Café Diwan was originally Bourj Al Resace, and a significant military post until the arrival of the French in 1881. The rooftop view of the city, the Taparura project, and the main Azria Synagogue currently not in use is aloine worth the visit. Café Diwan is not a museum but a tea shop, which makes it doubly worth the visit. Enjoy a Chicha Hookah, your choice of tea Thé al la menthe with pine nuts is recommended or coffee espresso, direct or even Café Turc or coca cola. On the roof you will notice a circular wall, about waist height. This wall was the foundation of a water tower in the late 1800s. On your way out, slip into the circular room with the dome-shaped roof that supported the water tank, and listen to the reverberation as you speak. Note: pay for you drinks as you leave, and consider leaving your change as a tip.
Filming locations for The English Patient
Inside this souk is where Almasy gave Katherine a silver thimble of saffron. It no longer houses the blacksmiths, and as of Spring '09 is being remodeled around retail. See here for more Tunisian film locations.