Sidi Bou Said

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

Sidi Bou Saïd سيدي بو سعيد
Suburb
Port of Sidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Saïd is located in Tunisia Sidi Bou Saïd Location in Tunisia
Coordinates:
Country	Tunisia
Governorate	Tunis Governorate
Government
• Type	Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
• Mayor	Raouf Dakhlaoui
Population (2012)
• Total	5,873
Time zone	CET (UTC1)
Area code(s)	36° 52′ 0″ N, 10° 20′ 0″ E

Sidi Bou Said (Tunisian Arabic: سيدي بو سعيد‎ <phonos file="Sidi bous3id.wav"> Sīdi Bū Sɛīd</phonos>) a town in northern Tunisia located about 20 km from the capital, Tunis.

Named for a religious figure who lived there, Abou Said ibn Khalef ibn Yahia Ettamini el Beji (previously it was called Jabal el-Menar). The town itself is a tourist attraction and is known for its extensive use of blue and white. Souvenirs can be bought in the main street. It can be reached by a TGM train, which runs from Tunis to La Marsa.

Artists

Sidi Bou Said has a reputation as a town of artists. Artists who have lived in or visited Sidi Bou Said include Paul Klee, Gustave-Henri Jossot, August Macke and Louis Moillet. Tunisian artists in Sidi Bou Said are members of École 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 Abu Said Ibn Khalaf Yahya al-Tamimi al-Beji arrived in the village of Jabal el-Menar and established 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. His home, Ennejma Ezzahra, is now a museum.

Gallery

• Sidi Bou Said 2007.JPG

  Typical street with white walls and blue window shades

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  Sidi bou said

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  August Macke Sidi Bou Said painting "View into a Lane"

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  Paul Klee visited Sidi Bou Said in April 1914

References

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