Dar El Annabi is the finest traditional house open to visitors in Sidi Bou Said — a wealthy Tunisian aristocratic residence built in the 18th and 19th centuries, with the interconnected courtyards, carved stucco, and zellige tile work characteristic of the best North African domestic architecture. The central courtyard with its fountain and lemon trees sets the tone: this is a house built for shade, beauty, and privacy.
The rooms are furnished with period pieces and costumed mannequins showing traditional dress, which sounds kitschy but works reasonably well in context. More interesting are the architectural details — the carved cedar doors, the painted wooden ceilings, the intricate plasterwork — that demonstrate the level of craft that wealthy Tunisian families could command. The rooftop terrace gives good views over the village and the sea.