Kelibia is a very large settlement of low white houses and a lot of shops. It has a large fishing harbour and a lot of large houses belonging to wealthy businessmen. It is a busy fishing port but is suffering from competition from Italy.
The settlement dates back to Punic times when it was an important trading post. The fortress dominates the town. The present building is 16thC on the remains of a 6thC building. All that is left of this are the ruins of a lighthouse which is now a metrological station.
The fortress is surrounded by high crenellated walls still standing to their original height. A road leads up to the entrance with a small parking area and ticket office. In March 2012 a path was being made which will take you round the outside of the walls.
Entry is through a barbican to the main gateway which has slots for what could have been a portcullis and holes in the walls for the beams across the inside of the gateway. Inside steps lead up to the walkway round the walls with nice views of the town and surrounding areas. Inside is very overgrown with vegetation, especially big yellow daisies and asphodel in March. There is a small house inside the ruins with hens running round and the remains of arched storage sheds. There are the ruins of a Byzantine chapel.
