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4 Stars - 40 Opinions
Monastir esplanade and beach
The Ribat
Tunisia, Monastir, Marina
Tunisia, Monastir, Habib Bourguiba Mausoleum
Recognise the Nador tower in the Ribat? Well if you saw the film Monthy Python's Life of Brian then you probably would as it was featured in a scene where Brian (played by Graham Chapman) fell of the top only to be rescued by a passing alien spaceship. Another famous scene filmed within the Ribat was that of Biggus Dickus with some 500 Tunisians laughing at Michael Palin. I think the stoning scene was also filmed outside the walls of Ribat.
This is one monument that is difficult to miss. Construction if the mausoleum commenced in 1963 and bears more than a passing resemblance to the format of a mosque. It is dominated by the two minarets and the huge golden dome. Inside are the tombs of Bourguiba himself, his parents and his wife. The main sarcophagus is made of marble and has a large cahndelier. This is where Bourguiba himself was buried after his death in 2000.
There are several rooms to look at within the building, one of which shows many of the former president's personal items.
Open: Mon-Thurs 2pm-4.30pm, Fri-Sun 9am-4.30pm (6pm summer).
Admission: free
If you arrive just after closing time and the main gates are closed, wander around the path to the right and you may find that the guard at the side entrance is more than willing to let you in. This being the case, I'd suggest a 1 dinar tip. we were actually given a guided tour.
On the other side of the road from the Bourguiba Mosque lies this Costume Museum which displays traditional Tunisian costumes from all over the country most of which are wedding costumes. The admission cost is a bit pricy for what's on offer.
Open: 9am-12pm & 2-6pm. Admission: TD3 plus TD1 for camera.
Just off the harbour is Monastir's famous Ribat, built by Harthama ben Ayan in 796 AD, which ranks with the Ribat in Sousse as one of the oldest Arab fortresses in North Africa; but while the Ribat in Monastir was further strengthened the one in Sousse soon lost its military importance to the later Kasbah. As a result the similarities between the two buildings are not at first sight evident.
Basically the Ribat is similar in plan to the one in Sousse. Originally it was only 32.80m (108ft) square and lacked the semicircular towers half way along the sides of the Ribat of Sousse. On the southeast side is the three-storey Nador tower, from the top of which there are fine views of the harbour, the large cemetery containing the Bourguiba Mausoleum, the Great Mosque and the roofs of the Medina.
An imposing gateway on the west side of the Ribat leads into the inner courtyard, surrounded on three sides by buildings several storeys high containing the monks' cells, store-rooms and casemates. The monks quarters were separated by another gateway from other buildings (perhaps women's quarters) probably added in the 9th century.
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Address: Skanes, Monastir, 05000, Tunisia
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