Fodor's Expert Review Sidi Bou Said

Perched on the cliffs overlooking Tunis Bay, Sidi Bou Said couldn't be more of a contrast with urban Tunis. The village, named after Abou Said ibn Khalef ibn Yahia Ettamini el Beji, a Christian saint who fell in love with a Berber Princess and changed his name and religion, is a maze of cobbled alleyways and tiny squares flanked by whitewashed cottages decorated with vivid blue paintwork. Discovered by the artistic community of Tunisia, the streets play host to a wealth of galleries, along with crafts shops interspersed with small Arab cafés selling mint tea. Down by the harbor, a modern marina attracts a wealthy local clientele.