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