The Mediterranean Charm of Sidi Bou Saïd Continues to Seduce the World
The renowned international magazine Architectural Digest (AD) has included the Tunisian village in its selection of the top 10 most beautiful white villages in the world, alongside iconic destinations in Greece, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Kenya, and Peru. Perched in the north of Tunis, Sidi Bou Saïd dominates the Mediterranean with its white and blue silhouette, which has become a symbol of Tunisian architectural refinement. With its whitewashed walls, intensely blue woodwork, and flower-filled alleys, the village embodies a Mediterranean lifestyle where beauty, light, and history intertwine.
The Secret to Sidi Bou Saïd's Charm
According to Architectural Digest, the unique aesthetic of Sidi Bou Saïd owes a great deal to Baron Rodolphe d'Erlanger, a Franco-British artist who, in the early 20th century, imposed a regulation prohibiting any color other than white and blue. This chromatic choice, inspired by both the sea and the sky, has shaped the village's visual identity and made it a photographic and cultural icon.
Cited as one of the most harmonious villages in the Mediterranean basin, Sidi Bou Saïd attracts thousands of visitors each year, fascinated by its changing light and panoramas of the Gulf of Tunis. The site is also preparing its candidacy for UNESCO World Heritage status, a recognition that would consecrate its historical and aesthetic value.
In its list, Architectural Digest traverses continents to celebrate villages where white architecture is both a symbol of purity and climate adaptation. The magazine notably mentions Paros and Oia in Greece, Villaluenga del Rosario and Frigiliana in Spain, Ostuni and Alberobello in Italy, Essaouira in Morocco, Yanahuara in Peru, and Lamu in Kenya. Each of these places illustrates, in its own way, how lime, stone, or coral have shaped luminous landscapes where tradition and aesthetics come together.
However, it is Sidi Bou Saïd that closes the ranking, as a tribute to Tunisia and its Mediterranean heritage. For Architectural Digest, the Tunisian village embodies the perfect balance between Arab-Andalusian heritage, marine softness, and aesthetic rigor, thus confirming its status as the white pearl of the Maghreb and ambassador of Tunisian beauty on a global scale.
Published by the American group Condé Nast, Architectural Digest (AD) is one of the most reputable magazines in the world in the fields of architecture, design, and lifestyle. Founded in 1920, it celebrates aesthetic excellence in all its forms and inspires architects, creators, and travelers through its international editions.
