This building was constructed for Othman Dey in the late 16th century. His business – piracy – was obviously lucrative, and he also happened to be Governor of Tunis from 1593 until his death in 1610. The palace is an exhilarating meld of Ottoman, Andalusian and traditional Tunisian architectural styles, with an exuberantly busy facade. Sadly, visitors are unlikely to be given permission to enter and see the courtyards and unusual interior garden that was planted in 1936.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.3 MILES
This sprawling maze of ancient streets and alleyways is one of the most impressive medieval medinas in North Africa and one of Tunisia's great treasures…
2.34 MILES
The main draw at the Tunisia's top museum is its magnificent collection of Roman mosaics. These provide a vibrant and fascinating portrait of ancient…
12.84 MILES
On the cultivated amber slopes of Mt Mekrima, the fascinating but little-visited ruins of ancient Uthina are the remains of one of the Roman Empire's…
0.25 MILES
A medina highlight, this hugely atmospheric souq is filled with exquisitely decorated shops producing and selling chechias, Tunisia's traditional blood…
0.22 MILES
Tunisian food markets offer a great introduction to local culture, and Tunis' Marché Centrale is particularly atmospheric. The original market building…
28.09 MILES
This appealing golden curve of beach is anchored by a rock-hewn castle-like villa, said to have belonged to Wassila Bourguiba, the wife of the former…
9.76 MILES
The Romans chose a sublime seaside setting for this monumental terme (bath complex), a short walk downhill from the Roman villas. Begun under Hadrian and…
0.19 MILES
Located in the heart of Tunis' medina, this important mosque was founded in 734 and built on a site once occupied by a church. It was totally rebuilt in…
Nearby Tunis attractions
0.06 MILES
This mosque was built in 1717 for Hussein Ben Ali, founder of the Husseinite line of beys (provincial governors). It has an adjoining madrassa (school for…
0.14 MILES
Ali Pasha, ruler of Tunisia from 1735 to 1756, commissioned this religious building as a memorial to his murdered son Suleiman. Entered from the street…
0.14 MILES
This building has the green fish-scale domes typical of Ottoman mausoleums. Inside is an intricate mix of tiles and stucco built during Ali Pasha II’s…
0.15 MILES
This former madrassa (school for study of the Quran) near the Hammam El Kachachine was built in 1752 and has a small, non-functioning public fountain…
0.16 MILES
Named after the palm tree in the courtyard, this Ottoman Quranic school was constructed in 1714 on the site of a funduq (caravanserai or travellers’ inn)…
0.19 MILES
Located in the heart of Tunis' medina, this important mosque was founded in 734 and built on a site once occupied by a church. It was totally rebuilt in…
0.2 MILES
Constructed in the late 18th century and rebuilt a century later, this handsome palace has functioned as a private residence, as the headquarters of the…
0.2 MILES
Running behind the Zitouna Mosque, the Souq des Étoffes (Fabric Souq) is the geographical heart of the medina's main mercantile enclave, leading to the…