Explore Sidi Bou Said - the magical jewel of Tunisia
Sidi Bou Said sits on a hill above the Gulf of Tunis, twenty kilometers north of the capital. People built the first settlement here in Phoenician times. The town took its name from the holy man Abu Said Beji. Long ago it was called Mount La Marsa or Jebel El Manar - Carthaginian soldiers used the hill as a fort and watch-point to guard the land.
Centuries passed and the place turned into a summer escape. Each year crowds arrive for the lively Al-Kharja festival. From the 1980s onward, more plus more visitors come - they come to see the blue doors, white walls and the mix of Islamic besides Mediterranean styles. Wood and plaster around the windows but also doors carry patterns that once belonged to Andalusia.
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Phoenician, Roman, Islamic or Andalusian traces all remain in the streets, the houses and the air. Writers and musicians settle here because the colors as well as light feed their work. The town now holds concerts, shows and feasts that honor the blended past.
Old cafés and restaurants form the heart of daily life. At Café des Délices, thinkers or artists meet as if the terrace were a living room. Two preserved mansions keep the story alive - Dar Al Annabi Museum displays family life of earlier centuries, while Dar Najmat al-Zahra Palace - once the home of Baron Rodolphe d’Erlanger - houses the Centre for Arab next to Mediterranean Music.
The sea lies below the cliffs - white walls shine against the water. A short ride on the TGM light rail links the town with Tunis. Nearby ruins of Carthage add another layer for anyone who loves history, art and the feel of a small coastal town that still lives by its own rhythm.
