Nefta is one of Tunisia's holiest towns and a centre of Sufism since the 14th century. The visible expression is the dozens of marabouts — small whitewashed shrines, each topped with a dome — that punctuate the town and the rim of the Corbeille. Each is the tomb of a venerated Sufi saint, and locals still visit to leave flowers, light candles, and ask for blessings.
The most important is the mausoleum of Sidi Bou Ali, a 13th-century saint credited with introducing Sufism to the region. The interior is reserved for Muslim worshippers, but the exterior and surrounding cemetery are open. Several other marabouts are scattered around the Corbeille rim and along the lanes of the old quarters — wandering and counting domes is a quiet way to spend an afternoon.