Address  : Government's square

According to some sources this palace was founded by Youssef Dey (1019-1047 H/1610-1637 AD) who decided to have it built on a site where there was a cemetery called "as-silsila" next to a group of buildings containing a mosque, a medersa and souks that the Dey had already built. Then Hamouda Pasha al-Mouradi (1041-1074 H/1631-1663 AD) enlarged the original building so that the capital could have an appropriate palace for official receptions and ceremonies. Later, under the reign of Hamouda Pasha al Husseini (1197-1230 H/1782-1814) the palace was further modified to conform with the penchant that the Husseini era had for Italian style. Large doors framed in broken arches in kadhel (limestone) are set in facades built entirely in hirch (yellow sandstone). The two courtyards of the building are surrounded by elevated porticoes supported by piers with bases in the shape of parallelepiped and imposts in chiselled stone of Hafside style. The overall impression is one of severe austerity characteristic of the Mouradite architectural style. The upper floor of this royal palace shows the luxurius taste of the Husseini era (abundant use of marble, stucco, mosaics and ceramics). The formal reception hall is overwhelming with its sumptuous Hispano-Maghrebi decor and especially the richly-decorated q'bou (alcove). During the reign of Ahmed Bey a large wing was built over the "Driba" for government offices; it has large bay-windows overlooking Souk al-Bey and Place de la Kasbah. Towards the end of the 13th H/19th c. AD Sadok Bey added European-style drawing-rooms and a large reception hall for officials functions. During the Protectorate the Bey continued to use the building for administrative and ceremonial activities. After independence it became the Government House.