We walk past the Monastir Ribat every time we walk into town to run errands or have a meal, each time saying that we really need to visit. Our time was running short before we were due to fly out, so we picked a sunny day and off we went.
A ribat is an Islamic defensive structure, or fortress, and this one is one of the oldest, largest and best preserved in the country. First built in 796AD during the Maghreb dynasty, it was expanded and modified over the centuries to incorporate military innovations, as well as for use as a monastery.
Inside the ribat is a museum with religious artifacts from all over the country.
We trekked up a narrow, claustrophobic set of stairs of the central tower, to be rewarded with a spectacular view of the waterfront.
We had known that the ribat was the set for the Monty Python movie Life of Brian, so we watched the movie the night before we went, and then again after our visit. It was fun to see how the entire fortress had been transformed for different scenes from the movie.
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