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Written by Gillian
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For a true insight into the real Tunisia, a trip to Sidi Bou Said is a must. This charming town, on the northeast coast of Tunisia, is an easy 13 mile drive north east of Tunis. The railway also runs from Tunis making it very accessible.
 The first thing you will notice when you enter the town is how blue everything is – and I don’t just mean the sky! The tiny streets are filled with whitewashed houses, all with dazzling sky blue doors, window shutters, flower pots and more. Glimpses of the Mediterranean beyond offer a beautiful deep blue backdrop to this lovely centuries-old town, which is set on a hillside around the mosque. The freshness of the blue and white paintwork is set off perfectly with the bright pink of the cascading bougainvillea which grows in pots and gardens everywhere. This charming town is a gem of Tunisian life from days gone by, and is almost biblical in its architecture and lifestyle. Fortunately it is protected from over-development by wise and far-seeing government orders, issued way back in 1915. Europeans discovered the unspoilt town at the turn of the 19th century. It was largely left to its own devices until 1942, when André Gide rediscovered it and informed the rest of the world.
The town is named after Abu Said, who was buried in the local mosque in 1231. He was a teacher of Sufism and was commissioned by the Corsair pirates to guard the town against the European infidels. Consequently, non-Muslims were banned from entering Sidi Bou Said right up until 1820. The irony is that the same infidels now flock to the town, bringing prosperity to the local shops and cafes. The Café des Nattes is the perfect place to enjoy mint tea on the terrace, when you tire of wandering around the ancient streets. |
