3 reasons to visit Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia
If you're fascinated by the Greek city of Santorini, we're here to tell you that Santorini is just a replica of the fantastic Tunisian suburb of Bou Said. Bou Said or Santorini Africa, as it is called by its European visitors, dates back to the Middle Ages and has a view of Carthage, and what distinguishes it most is the architecture of its bright white houses with ornate blue doors. The suburb derives its name from Abu Sa'id al-Baji and was buried in this hillside instead of its old name which was Jabal al-Manar. Mount Manar was the headquarters of defense and observation to protect the Phoenician city of Carthage in the seventh century. Bou Said has a quiet spiritual character overlooking the Gulf, the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea and its bright sun.
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Show key points
- Bou Said, known as the "Santorini of Africa," dates back to the Middle Ages and charms visitors with its signature white-and-blue architecture overlooking Carthage and the Mediterranean Sea.
- The suburb maintains its historical and architectural authenticity by enforcing strict building regulations that preserve its original character.
- Bou Said offers a peaceful, spiritually rich atmosphere with artisan shops, the scent of jasmine, and local delicacies filling its quaint alleys.
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- Unlike many tourist destinations, Bou Said is not overcrowded, allowing visitors to enjoy a genuine village lifestyle among locals from various social backgrounds.
- The area has long inspired both local and international artists, thanks to its colorful scenery, unique architecture, and vibrant artistic community.
- Bou Said is home to the historic Palace of the Blue Star, a blend of Andalusian and Tunisian styles, which now serves as a music museum featuring rare instruments and recordings.
- Its strategic location near Tunis and the ancient city of Carthage makes Bou Said easily accessible while offering breathtaking sea views and cultural experiences.
1- The originality of the city and its attractive colors
We often notice that the commercial character dominates and dominates the famous tourist places, but in Bou Said you will return to the original, simple and pure character. Architects are committed to building houses with the same old character through a booklet of conditions granted by the city to preserve the originality and purity of the city.
You will notice the handicraft shops on the sides of the alleys and lanes beautifully displayed in their dazzling colors mixed with the blue and white colors of all the buildings of the suburb mixed with the color of the sea and the sky. You won't pass by its streets without smelling the white jasmine and the delicious aroma of Tunisian pamploni pies that resemble sugar-sweetened doughnuts.
Bou Said Homes are summer homes for Tunisia's rich and a resort for middle-income residents. Although Bou Said is a tourist city, when you visit it, you will not suffer from the heavy crowding associated with coastal tourist cities. You will experience the simple life of the village where all spectrums of the population – educated, artists, craftsmen and simple people gather at cafes at night.
2. A city that inspires artists
The architectural masterpieces of the suburb and its streets that are almost painted are not the only reason why Bou Said is an artistic city that inspires artists. The rich image of the city inspires Tunisian artists as well as foreign artists from all over the world to come, enjoy the colors and produce their artworks. Whether by painting paintings, photography, sculpture and engraving on walls and doors. As well as handmade textiles with their innovative and attractive colors and drawings, as well as handmade copper jewelry as well.
The House of Baron d'Irlangi or Palace of the Blue Star, which blended Tunisian and Andalusian architecture, and was built in the heart of a huge green garden, is a museum and center of Arabic music and is the first house to be painted blue and white. The houses in Bou Said before it were white and green, and then the rest of the houses followed in his footsteps, so that the city adopted white and blue colors for all houses.
The Baron was of French-German descent and studied painting and music and was particularly fond of Arabic music, so the house includes an exhibition of rare Arab, European, African and of course Tunisian musical instruments, along with rare musical sound recordings. The Baron visited the suburb in order to complete the purchase of the land, but the nature of the place fascinated him as a sensitive artist and a lover of music, so he built the palace and settled there.
3- Privileged location
Bou Said's location is not only distinguished by its view of the bay with a charming view of the beach and yachts, but also that it is no more than a 20-minute drive from the center of Tunis. Also, just a 10-minute drive you can visit the archaeological site of Carthage and you can even go to Carthage by bicycle. Carthage is a Phoenician kingdom, and in your tour of the site, which was adopted by UNESCO as one of the archaeological sites, you can visit the Carthage Theater, which is one of the most famous monuments remaining to the city and holds a famous music festival annually and the theater can accommodate 12 thousand people. You can clearly realize the beauty of the Bou Said location when you visit one of its cafes at sunset, drink coffee or tea with almonds, and enjoy the sea view and the fragrant night breeze. Bou Said is truly a heavenly view.
