Testour

Testour, in Béja governorate about 77 km south-west of Tunis, was built around 1609 by descendants of Andalusians who had left Spain, on the site of a Roman village. Its houses, streets and Grande Mosquée (built in the first third of the 17th century) give the town a look unlike the rest of the country. An international festival of malouf and Arab traditional music has been held here since 1967.

History

Moorish families migrated to Tunisia from about 1580, and many settled here.

Customs

Dress modestly near the mosque, and ask before entering.

Food

Pomegranates, fresh in autumn, are the local speciality.

Best time

March to May and October to November.

The pomegranate is the local pride: a pomegranate festival has been held in the town since 2016.