SIDI BOU SAID

'Sidi Bou Said' (Arabic: سيدي بو سعيد) is a town in northern Tunisia (it is located only 20 km from the capital of Tunisia, Tunis).
The town got its name for a Muslim religious figure who lived there, Abou Said ibn Khalef ibn Yahia Ettamini el Beji (before he came along, it was called Jabal el-Menar). The town itself is a tourist attraction as it is known for the extensive use of blue and white colors all over the town. All kinds of souvenirs (some not even remotely connected to Sidi Bou Said and sometimes not to Tunisia itself) can be bought in the main street. While staying in Sidi Bou Said for a few days is not common, tourists from Hammamet and other tourist towns usually come to Sidi Bou Said. It can be reached by a TGM train, which runs from Tunis to La Marsa.

Contents

Artists

History

Popular tourist destinations near Sidi Bou Said

References

Artists

Sidi Bou Said is still under reputation as a town of artists. Many famous artists lived there or visited Sidi Bou Said. Most famous is probably Paul Klee. Other European artists include Gustave-Henri Jossot, August Macke and Louis Moillet. Tunisian artists in Sidi Bou Said are members of Ecole de Tunis (painting school of Tunis). Most famous are Yahia Turki, Brahim Dhahak and Ammar Farhat.

History

★ 12th century/13th century AD Abou Said ibn Khalef ibn Yahia Ettamini el Beji comes to the village of Jabal el-Menar and establishes a sanctuary. After he dies in 1231, he was buried there.

★ 18th century Turkish governors of Tunis and wealthy citizens of Tunis build residences in Sidi Bou Said.

★ 1920s Baron Rodolphe d’Erlanger applies the blue-white theme all over the town.

Popular tourist destinations near Sidi Bou Said

★ Kairouan (Al-Qayrawān, القيروان)

★ Tunis (Tūnis, تونس)

★ Hammamet () (الحمامات)

★ Carthage (قرطاج)

References

★ History of Sidi Bou Said

★ About Sidi Bou Said in general

★ Sidi Bou Said travel guide

★ Lexicorient