Every city in Tunisia has a "Great Mosque," but the Great Mosque of Kairouan is the most important of all and is commonly regarded as the fourth holiest site in Islam.

The exterior of the Great Mosque of Kairouan, is in the typically austere Aghlabid design, but the mosque becomes much more impressive when you enter the courtyard.

The Great Mosque is approached through a large marble-paved courtyard.

The colonnade surrounding the courtyard is supported by 400 pillars plundered from many local sources — pagan Roman, Byzantine, and Latin.

Christian symbols are scattered about incongrously.