Dar Daouletli

Dar Daouletli

Headquarters of La Rachidia

Dar Daouletli is a palace in the Medina of Tunis. Since the sixties, it has been the headquarters of the famous institute of traditional Tunisian music of Andalusian origin, La Rachidia, which still welcomes many disciples and music lovers.

The palace, built in the seventeenth century is located in the street Driba, near the street Sidi Ben Arous.

The old name of the palace–its original name–comes from “Daouletli”, an important Turkish character of the city, who ruled as a Dey between the Turkish and Husseinite periods. He was a military governor who gradually lost his power and prerogatives under the regency and the beylicat of Tunis.

The Daouletli handled the security of the Medina and was therefore assigned a Driba associated with a particular palace, near Sidi Ben Arous street, on the heights overlooking the city.

To enter the palace, the visitor passed through a large doorway closing the access to a private alley (Driba) partly vaulted. The palace also had another massive door on the other side, leading to Dar el Jeld street. It comprises a chicane entrance (skifa), a courtyard (west ad-dar) surrounded by galleries (burtal) and apartments (byout), which complement an oratory (masjid) and servitudes.The house is classified as a historical monument since October 19, 1992.