MONASTIR: A diverse and pleasant resort-city

 

A cove near the Marina

Halfway on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Tunisia, Monastir offers a superb and diverse location, prone to please all.

Monastir, the former Punic-Roman 'Ruspina', has been built on a promontory above the Mediterranean. Although it looks modern in many ways, there is still an old town, called the medina, entirely surrounded by walls. The massive fort, called the Ribat, was built to protect the harbor and the city from pirates or foreign invaders such as the Byzantines. Monastir is also the hometown of Habib Bourguiba (1903-2000), the Father of the Tunisian Republic and its first President. His impressive mausoleum stands near the Ribat, being de facto the second landmark of the town.

The seafront promenade, below the Ribat, is currently undergoing a major renovation. It offers a wonderful seafront with a small sandy beach that makes the pride of the city. The Marina is also nearby and remains a place of stroll and leisure for visitors and city-dwellers.

Located just behind the Great Mosque and its tall minaret, the old town remains a scenic and pleasurable section of Monastir. 

Monastir has an international airport allowing holiday-makers to easily reach the many hotels and resorts on the coast. Consequently, Monastir is an ideal place to combine a vacation with a bit of sightseeing. As a matter of fact, many interesting sites can be visited nearby: Sousse (N), Mahdia (S), El-Djem (S-W), or even Kairouan (E).

C.S.

The Ribat

The old and the new

At the Marina

Downtown main square

The fishing harbor

Promontory view of the town

The central cemetery

The city's public beach

Seaview

The seaside boulevard

At the Corniche drive

The door of a private home

Downtown

A coffeeshop terrace on the Corniche

Evening scene on the central square

Evening view

A mosque at night

Moonlight over a minaret

 

Evening light at the Marina

Panoramic view of Monastir