Monastir: the fort that hosted cinema history

The Ribat of Monastir, a monastic fortress from the eighth century, was used as a set for films like 'The Gospel According to Matthew' and the series 'Monty Python's Life of Brian'.

A few steps away, the Mausoleum of Bourguiba, with its golden domes, houses the tomb of the father of Tunisian independence in a sumptuous monument.

Continuing, one walks through the historic cemetery nearby, with white tombs dating back several centuries of the city's coastal history, aligned toward the sea.

Toward evening, the tourist port of Monastir, with yachts and sailboats moored, offers a relaxed walk before dinner.

The Ribat of Monastir, originally built as a religious fortress for coastal defense against Byzantine raids, has become in recent decades a sought-after film location for its authentically medieval appearance.

Habib Bourguiba, first president of independent Tunisia, chose his native city to build a monumental mausoleum, today among the most visited places in Monastir.