To really get a deeper understanding of the area, head inland towards the golden sand dunes that are home to a myriad of hidden treasures. One not-so-hidden treasure is the amphitheatre of El Jem which was a set for the film Gladiator and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site owing to its size and importance during the Roman Empire. Due to the drifting sands of the desert, archaeologists periodically make discoveries here, the most recent of which is a large racetrack that had gone unnoticed for centuries. A private tour, which can last anywhere between four hours and three days, will take adventurers from Monastir through the surrounding Bedouin villages, past Kairouan to El Jem.

Once a prayer hall, the Ribat Museum showcases a varied collection of traditional fabrics and objects such as coins, jewellery and pottery that will transport visitors back to a time when Islamic art was highly coveted the world over. It also displays an astrolabe (a device which measures the distance between stars) dating all the way back to the year 927, right at the time when pivotal discoveries in astronomy and mathematics were taking place. The museum is accessible from the south wing of the Ribat.

The Sonnenborgh Observatory is housed in a historical building that traces back to a 17th-century laboratory on a 16th-century bulwark. Its lush greenery and water around it present it as an impressive sight even from a distance. Visitors are welcomed by friendly staff who provide a tablet with information, and engaging assignments that allow them to conduct their own research. The top of the observatory is accessible for everyone who wants to check out the telescope domes and gaze at the stars. Don't miss this chance to learn all about this unique building, the constellations and the weather in their exhibitions, tours or lectures.