The Arab and Mediterranean Music Centre is located in the Erlanger
Palace, the old residence of Baron Rodolphe d¹Erlanger in Sidi
Bou Saïd. The Centre, which is dedicated to museology and interpretation,
opened in November of 1992 as a result of an initiative of President
Abidine Ben Ali. Since then, the Centre has received continued
support from the President and is responsible to the Ministry
of Culture.
The Centre plays a role in four major areas: conservation,
exhibitions related to Tunisian musical heritage and museum
activities, reports and research as well as arts and activity
programming.
The Palace is one of the most significant architectural sites
in Tunisia. Its style is marked by local influences as well
as by typological and decorative details borrowed from the Andalusian-Maghreb
tradition. The Palace was built between 1911 and 1922 by the
Baron Rodolphe d'Erlanger, a famous musicologist and painter.
The Palace itself is about 3,000 square metres and the outbuildings
add a further 1,800 square metres. It has a park around it of
five hectares.