The town of Sidi Bou Said has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List - it is Tunisia’s tenth site

The City Dossier submitted by the Tunisian authorities was titled: “Sidi Bou Said: A Mediterranean Center of Cultural and Spiritual Inspiration.” Situated on a picturesque hill with sweeping views of the Gulf of Tunis, the town is famous for its traditional Arab-Andalusian architecture, charming streets, and the role it has played for over a century as a mecca for artists—particularly painters—and intellectuals from around the world. The settlement developed around the tomb of the Sufi master Abou Saïd Khalaf Ibn Yahya El-Tamimi El-Béji, who lived at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries, which lends it an additional unique spiritual dimension. It is in honor of this mystic that the town is called Sidi Bou Said today.

The inscription also has significant formal implications: until now, Sidi Bou Said had been considered part of the archaeological site of Carthage (inscribed in 1979). It now holds independent status on the list, confirming its distinct and exceptional universal value.

This is now the tenth site in Tunisia to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The country thus strengthens its position as one of the best-represented nations in Africa and the Arab world.

The application process began in February 2024, and the official documents were submitted in February 2025. The documentation was prepared under the supervision of Tunisian authorities, including the Ministry of Culture and the National Heritage Institute (INP), in cooperation with the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, numerous national institutions, and with the support of

A complete list of sites in Tunisia inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List:
1. The Medina of Tunis (cultural site, 1979)
2. The Archaeological Site of Carthage (cultural site, 1979)
3. The Amphitheater at El Djem (cultural site, 1979)
4. Ichkeul National Park (the only natural site, 1980)
5. The Punic City of Kerkouane and its Necropolis (cultural site, 1985)
6. The Great Mosque and the Medina of Kairouan (cultural site, 1988)
7. The Medina of Sousse (cultural site, 1988)
8. The Archaeological Site of Dougga (cultural site, 1997)
9. The Island of Djerba (cultural site, 2023)
10. The town of Sidi Bou Said (cultural site, 2026)

Visit the Tunisia stand at ITTF Warsaw!

During this year’s edition of ITTF Warsaw, visitors will once again have the opportunity to discover all that Tunisia has to offer and see for themselves that this country is not just about sun and beaches, but also boasts an extraordinary historical heritage and timeless beauty.