Tunisia has a rich architectural heritage. The famous Turbet el Bey mausoleum was built during the reign of the Husseinid dynasty by Pasha Ali II in the late 18th century. This mausoleum was built especially for the members of the Husseinid family: the caliphs themselves, their wives, heirs and other family members.
The rulers of Tunisia lived in luxurious country palaces outside the capital, and only after death did they give their subjects the "honour" of being close to them. Later, next to the rooms where the sarcophagi of the rulers stood, they began to bury especially famous ministers and the rich Tunisian nobility of that time.
In the 18th century, Italian culture began to actively penetrate Tunisia, so the Husseinid Mausoleum has some elements of the Renaissance: the halls of the Mausoleum are decorated with knock (artificial marble) and skilfully made tiles.
Turbet el-Bey Mausoleum was built with spacious rooms with high vaulted ceilings. The tombs of the mausoleum, including the sarcophagi themselves, are decorated with fine and graceful carvings of rare techniques. The sarcophagi of the caliphs and their wives are in different rooms. Above each male burial is a stylised turban as a symbol of power and belonging to the Muslim faith.
