DAR EL HADDAD

9, impasse de l'Artillerie

Built to the south-west of the souks in the old quarter of the Beni-Khorassan, the Dar Haddad is without doubt one of the oldest houses in the Medina and goes back to the 16th century.
Since the beginning of the 18th century it has belonged to the Haddad family, rich fez makers, who originally came from Andalusia to Tunis after the fall of Granada. It is classed as historical monument and is being restored. It is noteworthy for its original lay-out, perfect scale, elegance and sobriety of décor.
The courtyard is porticoed on three sides. The Hafsid capitalled columns are extended by imposts.
The fourth side of the courtyard has three long alcoves, those on each side with benches.
Upstairs a gallery surrounds all four sides. Columns, resting on squared bases, are grouped in threes and linked at the corners by a turned-wood balustrade. Unlike the usual arrangement in palaces, the service area is not separate from the family quarters. It extends here to each side of the state chamber which faces the entrance, one part of it serves as a store, and the other, where the well is, gives on to a small courtyard from which kitchen, hammam and latrines open out.
One of the six great chambers of the palace, upstairs, is of a design not seen anywhere else. It is countersunk at the center with four small side rooms leading off it.