Tourbet el Bey

One of the highly revered attractions in the marvelous city of Tunis is the Ottoman Tourbet (tomb) El Bey. Built during Ali Bey II's reign (1758-82), the mausoleum was the final burial place for the members of the Husseinite dynasty (that ruled Tunisia for more than two centuries), as well as the beys, princesses, court people, favorite ministers and trusted ad¬visers. It contains a huge number of marble graves that occupy the patio and a set of rooms covered with green fish-scale domes. The graves of the beys are the most richly decorated rooms in the mausoleum. Inside is a mishmash of polychrome faience tiles and intricate stucco. The ceiling domes inside the rooms are beautified with ceramic tiles and finely worked stucco. Above the male tombs are some epitaphs that feature a marble Ot...Read More