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Sousse

Tunisian town

60km

35.833310.6333

Monastir

city in Tunisia

79km

35.766710.8167

Tunis

capital city of Tunisia

101km

36.810.1833

Mahdia

Tunisian town

108km

35.511.066667

Sfax

Tunisian town

113km

34.733310.7667

Sufetula

(Sbeitla) — a fairly well preserved Roman settlement in the mid-west area of Tunisia

115km

35.2297229.129444
Sights (12)

Great Mosque of Kairouan

One of the finest Islamic buildings in North Africa and rewards closer inspection. Non Muslims are not permitted into the prayer hall, but the doors are open to allow you to view inside. Access to the main courtyard is available to all. The columns throughout the complex were taken from Carthage, the wooden ceiling from Lebanese cedar wood. In the courtyard, there are indents into the floor with varying sizes for camel or dromedary hoofs, or human feet, for washing before prayers. On the tiny platform in the middle of the courtyard, there is also four black pins on a board that tells the prayer times by the sun. Facing the prayer room, on one of the left columns is also a last black pin marking the night prayer by moonlight.

514m

35.6813888910.10388889

Raqqada

Raqqāda is the site of the second capital of the 9th-century dynasty of Aghlabids, located about ten kilometers southwest of Kairouan. The site now houses the National Museum of Islamic Art. Which specializes in medieval Islamic art and includes works from Kairouan, Raqqada and Al-Mansuriya, a former princely city built in the Fatimid period.

8.8km

35.59624310.0569

Mosque of Three Doors

mosque in Tunisia

25km

35.403710.061

Port El Kantaoui

seaside resort in Tunisia

58km

35.89410.598

Ribat of Sousse

Whilst not as impressive or extensive as the Ribat in Monastir this fortified holy site is a worthwhile visit and served as home to a branch of Islamic warriors very similar in nature and creed as the Hospitaller Knights that lived in Rhodes. Climbing to the top of the watch tower affords you fantastic views over the Medina.

61km

35.827710.6388

Great Mosque of Sousse

A surprisingly tranquil place despite its location in the middle of the city. Built c. 850 AD, this mosque is simple and austere in the Aghlabite style, no decoration whatsoever aside from a string of angular Arabic and curved arches. Even the prayer room is covered in reed mats instead of the usual carpet. You must be properly dressed to enter, but green wraps can be rented for a token fee to cover up.

61km

35.8269444410.63972222

Amphitheatre of El Jem

The amphitheater dominates the modern town, and was also featured in several scenes of the film Gladiator. The amphitheater is best seen at dawn or sunset, and this is also the best time for taking photographs. While the grounds may be closed during sunrise or sunset, photographs of the site from the surrounding streets are certainly possible.

75km

35.2963888910.70694444

El Djem Archaeological Museum

It has a large selection of mosaics and one restored Roman Villa, which has all the mosaics in place and gives a real feel for their style of living. Adjoining this is the rest of this area of Roman Thysdrus, with the streets and floor plans laid out over a large area showing the variations to the house and villa plan.

75km

35.2897222210.70472222

Ribat of Monastir

This fortified monastery is located next to the sea and provides a great visit with most of the ruins open to clamber over. It may be familiar as it has been used in several films as a stand in for Jerusalem, most notably Monty Python's Life of Brian. You can climb the tower and have a nice view over the coastline and city.

81km

35.776110.8329

Lamta Archaeological Museum

The ancient city of Leptiminus is located about 10 km south of Monastir. It was founded by Phoenician sailors around the 12th century BC. The modern city of Lamta was built on top of this ancient city, thus leaving almost nothing of it. Although some remnants from the times of Leptiminus can still be found in this museum.

86km

35.6769444410.87722222

Great Mosque of Monastir

Built in the 9th century and then enlarged over the centuries. It now includes a prayer room and a minaret, and doesn't have a courtyard inside. Off-limits to non-Muslims.

87km

35.6710.8925

Great Mosque of Mahdiya

Located on the southern side of the peninsula on which the old city was located; built in 916 CE, after the founding of the city within the walls built by the Caliphate on an artificial platform reclaimed from the sea.

109km

35.50389611.072054
Nature

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Kairouan

Tunisia
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Someday we will visit Kairouan or begin to dream about going there! However, for now its not on our radar. Let us know in the comments if you think that should change!

Kairouan

Kairouan, sometimes spelled Kairwan, Kayrawan or Al Qayrawan, is a city in Tunisia. It's a holy city in Islam, ranking fourth after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem as a place of pilgrimage. Reputedly seven visits here are the equivalent of one to Mecca. With it's large mosques and rich cultural history it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kairouan was used as a filming location for the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark, standing in for Cairo. As the film is set in 1936, television antennas throughout the city were taken down for the duration of filming.

Kairouan, the capital of Kairouan Governorate, lies south of Sousse, 50 km (31 mi) from the east coast, 75 km (47 mi) from Monastir and 184 km (114 mi) from Tunis.

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Climate

Average temperatures

Jan

16.9°C6.2
Precipitation: 24 mm

Feb

18.3°C6.9
Precipitation: 23.9 mm

Mar

20.2°C8.2
Precipitation: 33.1 mm

Apr

23.3°C10.6
Precipitation: 29.8 mm

May

28.3°C14.1
Precipitation: 18.9 mm

Jun

32.9°C17.9
Precipitation: 10.5 mm

Jul

36.8°C20.6
Precipitation: 6.7 mm

Aug

36.3°C21.1
Precipitation: 13.3 mm

Sep

31.9°C19.1
Precipitation: 39 mm

Oct

26.5°C15
Precipitation: 49.2 mm

Nov

21.6°C10.3
Precipitation: 28.9 mm

Dec

17.8°C7.2
Precipitation: 35.4 mm
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