Coming to Monastir from almost any other part of Tunisia, you will be surprised to discover how densely populated the small triangle just south of Sousse is. There's a burgeoning town every few kilometres. Originally built as a trading post by the Phoenicians and then by the Romans under the name of Ruspina, Monastir became important once again in the eighth century with the establishment of its fortified Ribat. The Ribat has the appearance of an imposing monastery, and was intended as a defence against sea-faring invaders. It houses an Islamic museum, and in summer son et lumiere presentations light up its walls.

The town is dominated by the family mausoleum of the former president Habib Bourguiba. Its gold and green domes and gold-tipped minarets are particularly beautiful at night when the mausoleum is illuminated. Bourguiba's wealth benefited Monastir enormously, as he also funded an international airport, municipal gardens, a mosque and a large marina.
Today, despite its fortifications, visitors to Monastir can enjoy crowded yet friendly streets, and a powerful North African atmosphere coupled harmoniously with an Andalucian-style framework.

Once you've visited the old fishing port, the Bourguiba Mausoleum and the Ribat of Hartema, you must try out Monastir's Flamingo course. It's yet another 1 8-holer designed by the country's favourite American architect, Ronald Fream.

The luxurious, white-terraced clubhouse at Flamingo crowns a grand plateau, and its girdle of early holes has a natural lateral tilt towards the centuries-old olive trees and stream-eroded cliffs. It then takes a path over crests and hills before venturing once again through lush valleys and snaking around ponds.

It's been said before, but there is almost a southern Spanish feel here as a number of the emerald green fairways cut through the abundance of mature pine and oak trees, before hitting holes that feel the spray of the sea. The outward parkland holes gently thread their way through not only row after row of native olive groves and dense shrubbery, but encroaching lakes and quite a few strategically placed bunkers. And you will find that this layout is not only aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but a challenging test as well.