Sidi Bou Said

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This article is about a city in Tunisia. For a rock band, see Sidi Bou Said (band).

Coordinates: 36°52′N 10°20′E / 36.867, 10.333
Sidi Bou Said
Port of Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said Location in Tunisia
Country	Tunisia
Governorate	Tunis Governorate
Population (2004)
- Total	5,409
Time zone	CET (UTC1)

Typical street with white walls and blue window shades

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.

1 Artists
2 History
3 Popular tourist destinations near Sidi Bou Said
4 References

[edit] 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, Saro Lo Turco 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Popular tourist destinations near Sidi Bou Said

Kairouan (Al-Qayrawān, القيروان)
Tunis (Tūnis, تونس)
Hammamet (Al-Ḥammāmāt) (الحمامات)
Carthage (قرطاج)

Ruelle de Sidi Bou Saïd	Entrée du café Sidi Chabaâne	Maison typique	Moucharabieh traditionnel
Vue sur les toits-terrasses	Aperçu de la mosquée	Cimetière de Sidi Bou Saïd	Sidi Bou Saïd nocturne