Restoration of the Ahmed Bey Palace: A New Cultural Hub
The Ahmed Bey Palace, a historic monument in La Marsa, Tunisia, has been restored to its former glory after decades of abandonment. The palace, built in 1847 by Count Giuseppe Raffo, has been transformed into a cultural hub, featuring a multipurpose cultural space, a restaurant, and luxury suites.
A New Lease on Life
The project is centered around three main axes:
- A multipurpose cultural space designed to host literary events, art exhibitions, a theater, and an artistic creation workshop.
- A restaurant located on the roof, offering a panoramic view of the surroundings.
- Luxury suites that combine heritage and modern comfort.
The palace, which was once the residence of the Husseinite dynasty, had fallen into disrepair after Tunisia's independence. It was occupied illegally for many years and was on the verge of being demolished to make way for a modern commercial center. However, in 2016, the palace was classified as a historic monument, marking the first step towards its preservation.
A Private Initiative
Mahmoud Redissi, the new owner of the palace, has undertaken the restoration project under the supervision of the National Heritage Institute. With no genetic link to the beylical family, Redissi was driven by nostalgia and a love for the place, which holds many memories for him. "It's by nostalgia and love for this place, charged with memories, a symbol of my origins, that I chose to invest in this initiative," he said.
The restoration work has currently advanced to 40%, with Redissi using his own funds and bank credits to finance the project. "I have not received any subsidies or financial support from Tunisian or foreign organizations," he emphasized. "Some merchants have offered us construction materials to encourage the project."
A New Tourist and Cultural Hub
The restored palace is set to become a new tourist and cultural hub, hosting art galleries, architecture exhibitions, and other cultural events. This private initiative is expected to set an example for the preservation of Tunisia's many secular monuments, which are threatened by decay and neglect.
Many of these historic buildings are squatted by delinquents or left to progressive degradation, without any real reaction from the authorities or society. Instead of abandoning them to their fate, these buildings of undeniable historical value can be preserved by new owners, in collaboration with the National Heritage Institute. They can be reintegrated into the cultural and economic circuit, preventing their inevitable collapse. It is more necessary than ever to act before these witnesses of the past disappear forever.
