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Desert Adventure

Monastir

Copyright: Rastislav Stur/shutterstock
DESTINATIONS tunisia monastir Do & See Desert Adventure

Desert Adventure

To really get a deeper understanding of the area, head inland towards the golden sand dunes that are home to a myriad of hidden treasures. One not-so-hidden treasure is the amphitheatre of El Jem which was a set for the film Gladiator and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site owing to its size and importance during the Roman Empire. Due to the drifting sands of the desert, archaeologists periodically make discoveries here, the most recent of which is a large racetrack that had gone unnoticed for centuries. A private tour, which can last anywhere between four hours and three days, will take adventurers from Monastir through the surrounding Bedouin villages, past Kairouan to El Jem.

Useful Information

Do & See

The marriage between historically significant architecture and modern touristic facilities makes Monastir a great destination amongst travellers seeking a relaxing and fun beach holiday with a side serving of tradition and culture. Perched on the waterfront lies the main historical attraction of Monastir, The Ribat. The impressive golden-topped Bourguiba Mosque is just a stone's throw away, surrounded by meticulously designed parks and several important landmarks. Head out of the city to experience the desert in all its glory or stroll down the seemingly endless beach to get a sense of the city when it was emerging as a fishing port during the collapse of the Roman Empire.

Ribat Copyright: Natalia Sidorova/shutterstock
Ribat
Considered the main attraction in Monastir and the best place to get a glimpse of ancient Tunisia, the Ribat built in 796 has been periodically renovated and reinforced to maintain its integrity and striking appearance. The oldest part of this defensive stronghold is situated around the lookout tower, which was built to locate enemy …
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Bourguiba Mausoleum Copyright: Lyubov Timofeyeva/shutterstock
Bourguiba Mausoleum
This majestic mausoleum dedicated to the 'Father of Modern Tunisia' Habib Bourguiba is decked out from top to bottom with white marble and decorative touches of emerald green, making it gleam in the hot sun of Monastir. The two towers poised on either side of the entrance to the tomb resemble the minarets of …
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Bourguiba Mosque Copyright: Romas_Photo/shutterstock
Bourguiba Mosque
Built in 1963 to commemorate Tunisia's first president Habib Bourguiba, this colourful mosque demonstrates typical Tunisian religious architecture complete with pink marble pillars and golden mosaics which are exquisitely preserved. The impressive prayer room which is the focal point of the mosque can take up to one thousand visitors and is often busy with …
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Sousse Copyright: Romas_Photo/shutterstock
Sousse
In case there wasn't enough to do in Monastir, the next port up has plenty to offer in the way of rare archaeological finds and exciting history which can be discovered in the Sousse Archaeological Museum or the Museum Dar Essid. The city of Sousse, similar to Monastir, exhibits some important ancient structures that …
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Ribat Museum Copyright: eFesenko/shutterstock
Ribat Museum
Once a prayer hall, the Ribat Museum showcases a varied collection of traditional fabrics and objects such as coins, jewellery and pottery that will transport visitors back to a time when Islamic art was highly coveted the world over. It also displays an astrolabe (a device which measures the distance between stars) dating all …
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Monastir Museum of Folk Arts & Traditions Copyright: art3dz/shutterstock
Monastir Museum of Folk Arts & Traditions
This small but pleasantly decorated museum gives insight into the traditional clothing and jewellery of both the Tunisian and Berber peoples. Stop in briefly and learn about the intricate designs of Monastir through the years. The Museum of Folk Arts & Traditions is located near the Bourguiba Mosque and is a nice, easy, inexpensive …
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Marina Copyright: geogif/shutterstock
Marina
This is the place for diving, fishing, windsurfing, sailing and just about any other water sport out there. The Marina is right beside the Ribat and a luxury hotel resort which peers over the crystal clear water on the other side towards the beach. Sauntering along the marina is especially enjoyable at sunset when …
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Beach Life Copyright: Evgeniapp/Shutterstock.com
Beach Life
White sand and turquoise water are the key ingredients to Monastir's beaches. The most obvious choice would be to head straight to Karaia (Qaraiya) beach, which is one of the focal points of the city. However, it does get very busy in high season. For those willing to venture a little further afield for …
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Desert Adventure Copyright: Rastislav Stur/shutterstock
Desert Adventure
To really get a deeper understanding of the area, head inland towards the golden sand dunes that are home to a myriad of hidden treasures. One not-so-hidden treasure is the amphitheatre of El Jem which was a set for the film Gladiator and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site owing to its …
Read more

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