On 25 July 2026, the village of Sidi Bou Saïd officially entered the history books. Meeting in Busan, South Korea, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee nanimously voted to inscribe the village on its prestigious list during its 48th session — a crowning achievement for a site previously protected only by its proximity to Carthage, listed back in 1979.
A Well-Deserved Recognition
Perched 130 metres above the Gulf of Tunis, some twenty kilometres from the capital, Sidi Bou Saïd has always captivated visitors with the pristine contrast of its white façades and azure-blue doors. Its cobbled streets, discreet courtyards and terraces open to the Mediterranean have, over the decades, made it a source of inspiration for painters, writers and travellers from around the world.
The nomination file, submitted under the title "Village of Sidi Bou Saïd: A Centre of Cultural and Spiritual Inspiration in the Mediterranean,"was led by the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs together with the National Heritage Institute. The listed property covers 76.54 hectares, surrounded by an 84.44-hectare buffer zone, and the decision was based on the cultural criterion, reserved for exceptional testimonies to a living cultural tradition.
With this new addition, Tunisia now counts ten UNESCO World Heritage sites — a record among African countries — alongside the Medina of Tunis, Carthage, the amphitheatre of El Jem, Dougga and the Medina of Kairouan.
What This Means for Visitors
This inscription is more than symbolic: it commits Tunisia to sustainably strengthening the architectural and landscape preservation of the village, while confirming its status as an essential cultural destination in the Mediterranean basin. For travellers, it's the assurance of discovering a place whose authenticity will continue to be protected for generations to come.
Staying at the Heart of a World Heritage Site
Nestled in this very village, Maison Dedine offers privileged access to this heritage now recognised by UNESCO. Our guests enjoy this exceptional setting every morning, just steps from the village's emblematic streets, cafés suspended above the sea, and the sunsets that have made Sidi Bou Saïd famous the world over.