It was inaugurated recently in Tataouine, in the south of the country, along with a sales outlet run by the Groupe Féminin de Développement Agricole (Gda) offering local products and testimonials on the history of the community.
The Ksar Ouled Soltane, a historic fortified granary of Berber origin, restored with Italian support, was inaugurated recently in Tataouine, a region in southern Tunisia. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Italian Ambassador in Tunis, Alessandro Prunas, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Tunis, Isabella Lucaferri, Director of the Tunisian National Heritage Institute (INP), Tarek Baccouche, and representatives of the local authorities.
The ksar, restored with the support of AICS, consists of two courtyards, each surrounded by a perimeter of multi-storey cellars with vaulted ceilings (ghorfas). Like other ksour (plural of ksar) built by Berber communities, Ksar Ouled Soltane is situated at the top of a hill, in a strategic position for defense against the invasions of yesteryear.
On this occasion, Ambassador Prunas and Aics Director Lucaferri also inaugurated the local produce outlet run by the Groupe Féminin de Développement Agricole (Gda) de Tataouine, which offers local products and testimonials on the history of the community.
The initiative is an integral part of the Rinova project – Environmental rehabilitation, job creation and territorial promotion in Tataouine, implemented by the Municipality of Nuoro (Italy), in collaboration with the Arcs Tunisie association.
The program aims to promote sustainable and resilient territorial development through three key pillars: waste management, support for the local economy and enhancement of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Tataouine, a town in southeastern Tunisia, 531 kilometers from Tunis and capital of the governorate of the same name, is known as the gateway to the desert. Its name derives from the Berber “tiṭṭawin”, plural of “tiṭṭ” meaning eye.
In addition to its picturesque charm and cultural richness, Tataouine has gained international renown thanks to the famous Star Wars film saga. Scenes from the film were shot in its desert, which inspired the name of the fictional planet “Tatooine”.
Restoring and enhancing the historical and cultural heritage of the Tataouine region offers new development opportunities, particularly for cultural tourism, aimed at visitors from all over Tunisia as well as local residents and communities.
The restoration of Ksar Ouled Soltane, carried out within the framework of the Rinova project, is not limited to the simple preservation of the monument, but represents a driving force for local development.
In addition to the creation of the Gda, made up of some twenty women from the village, who offer typical products from the region, the “Tataoui” brand has been launched, managed by the Institut des Régions Arides, to promote local identity and excellence.
Cultural heritage is a crucial area where memory, diversity and cultural development intersect. Archaeological heritage, in particular, is a fundamental part of the culture and history of Tunisian society.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
