THE OLD TOWN

With the exception of the ^12th-century Grand Mosque (Djemaâ el-Kebir), built in the Hafsid style, most of the major buildings were constructed in Ottoman times. To get a taste of this district's atmosphere, it's best to stroll through it in the morning, when the Constantinois crowd around the souk stalls. Here, you can take your time, stroll around, sit on a café terrace and sip your espresso, while savoring a pastry or a delicious savory dish typical of Algeria. Basically, you just enjoy the place and the atmosphere!

Beneath its deeply degraded appearance, the district retains some very fine ^16th and ^17th century residences, most of which are falling into disrepair through no fault of their owners. Don't miss a stroll through the narrow streets, stopping off at the small stores to buy spices, fruit and vegetables or handicrafts. The coppersmiths are clustered at the bottom of the town, past the Hotel Cirta. On the edge of the old town, near the Mellah-Slimane (formerly Perrégaux) footbridge, the medersa on boulevard Larbi-Ben-M'Hidi, now part of the university, is interesting for its polychrome ceramic tiles.

At the top of the old town, past the Jewish quarter, the kasbah has been partially renovated and opened to the public in 2015, the year Constantine was declared Capital of Islamic Culture. The surrounding fortifications, which can still be seen in places, were built using Roman stone carved by the Arabs.