Sidi Bou Saïd سيدي بو سعيد | |
|---|---|
Suburb | |
 View from Café des Délices | |
  Sidi Bou Saïd Location in Tunisia | |
| Coordinates:36°52′N10°20′E / 36.867°N 10.333°E /36.867; 10.333 | |
| Country |  Tunisia |
| Governorate | Tunis Governorate |
| Delegation(s) | Carthage |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mohamed Khalil Cherif (Nidaa Tounes) |
| Population (2023) | |
• Total | 6,000 |
| Time zone | UTC1 (CET) |
Sidi Bou Said (Arabic:سيدي بو سعيدSīdi Bū Sʻīdⓘ) is a town in northernTunisia located about 20 km northeast from the capital,Tunis.[1]
Named after a religious figure who lived there,Abu Said al-Baji, it was previously called Jbel el-Menar. The town itself is a tourist attraction and is known for its extensive use of blue and white. It can be reached by aTGM train, which runs fromTunis toLa Marsa.
Abu Said Ibn Khalaf Yahya al-Tamimi al-Beji arrived in the village of Jabal el-Menar and established a sanctuary there in either the 12th or 13th century AD. After his death in 1231, he was buried there. In the 18th century, wealthy citizens ofTunis built residences in Sidi Bou Said.
During the 1920s,Rodolphe d'Erlanger introduced the blue-white theme to the town.[2] His home,Ennejma Ezzahra, is now a museum that has a collection of musical instruments, and organizes concerts of classical and Arabic music.[3]
Sidi Bou Said has a reputation as a town of artists such as nawwarah and kassouma.[4][5] Artists who have lived in or visited Sidi Bou Said include famous occultistAleister Crowley,Paul Klee,Gustave-Henri Jossot,August Macke andLouis Moillet. Tunisian artists in Sidi Bou Said are members of École de Tunis (painting school of Tunis), such asYahia Turki,Brahim Dhahak andAmmar Farhat. French philosopherMichel Foucault lived there for a number of years while teaching at theTunis University.[6][7] French authorAndre Gide also had a house in the town.
Former Tunisian PresidentBeji Caid Essebsi was born in Sidi Bou Said,[8] as wasMoufida Tlatli, film director, screenwriter, and editor.[9]
Azzedine Alaïa had a house in Sidi Bou Said which is now transformed into an art gallery.[10]
French singerPatrick Bruel sang about Sidi Bou Said, specifically about Café des Délices, in his songAu Café des Délices in his 1999 albumJuste Avant.[citation needed]
.JPG)
1.jpg)
.jpg)
Sidi Bou Said travel guide from Wikivoyage36°52′N10°20′E / 36.867°N 10.333°E /36.867; 10.333
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
