Sidi Bou Said

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

Sidi Bou Said
Port of Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said Location in Tunisia
Coordinates: 36°52′N 10°20′E
Country	Tunisia
Governorate	Tunis Governorate
Population (2012)
• Total	5,873
Time zone	CET (UTC1)
postal code 2026
Area code(s)	36° 52′ 0″ N, 10° 20′ 0″ E

Typical street with white walls and blue window shades

Paul Klee visited Sidi Bou Said

Sidi Bou Said (Arabic: سيدي بو سعيد‎) is a town in northern Tunisia located about 20 km from the capital, Tunis.

The town got its name for a 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.

Artists

Sidi Bou Said is still under reputation as a town of artists. Artists who lived there or visited Sidi Bou Said include Paul Klee, 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), such as Yahia Turki, Brahim Dhahak and Ammar Farhat. French philosopher Michel Foucault lived there for a number of years while teaching at the University of Tunis.

History

In the 12th century/13th century AD Abou Said ibn Khalef ibn Yahia Ettamini el Beji arrived in the village of Jabal el-Menar and establishes a sanctuary. After his death in 1231, he was buried there. In the 18th century Turkish governors of Tunis and wealthy citizens of the latter built residences in Sidi Bou Said. During the 1920s, Rodolphe d’Erlanger applied the blue-white theme all over the town.

Religion

• Islam 68%
• Christianity 30%
• Judaism 2%

Generally

Located just north of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, is the town of Sidi Bou Said. The entire town is located on top of a steep cliff, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. The view from Sidi Bou Said is absolutely phenomenal,

auguste macke vue dans une ruelle (Sidi Bou Said paintings)

The entire town is simply beautiful, with flowers draped from almost every wall and doorway, and beautiful flowing vines hanging throughout the entire area. Sidi Bou Said is so beautiful, in fact, that many artists have taken up residence here.The town is also said to have inspired famous artist Paul Klee, and famous writer Andre Gide.

sidi bou said

Tourist destinations

• Hammamet
• La Marsa

Education

• Center Sidi Bou Said for Languages (Centre Sidi Bou Said de Langues et d'Informatique) is a language school next to the Sidi Bou Said TGM station which specializes in Arabic, with classes in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), classical Arabic, Tunisian Arabic and the various dialects of North Africa, the Gulf and the Levant.

References

• History of Sidi Bou Said
• About Sidi Bou Said in general
• Lexicorient
• Said Bou Said Photos