La Ghriba & Erriadh

★★★ Synagogue La Ghriba

The oldest synagogue in Africa and one of the oldest in the world stands in the village of Erriadh (formerly Hara Sghira) in the heart of Djerba. The Ghriba Synagogue is the spiritual center of a Jewish community that has lived on Djerba for over 2,500 years — according to legend, since the destruction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem (586 BC).

The name "La Ghriba" means "The Wonderful" or "The Stranger." The current synagogue dates from the 19th century and impresses with its interior of blue tiles, colorful glass, and carved wood. In the Holy of Holies, one of the oldest Torah scrolls in the world is kept, allegedly from the destroyed temple.

Every year in May, the Ghriba Pilgrimage (Pèlerinage) takes place, attracting thousands of Jews from around the world to Djerba. It is one of the oldest and most significant Jewish pilgrimages and an impressive testament to Tunisia's religious tolerance.

Erriadh, 7 km south of Houmt Souk. Free entry (donations welcome). Sun–Fri 8:00–17:00, Sat closed. Appropriate clothing, security check at the entrance. Photography of the interior with permission.

★★★ Djerbahood (Street Art Village)

Since 2014, Erriadh has transformed into one of the largest street art projects in the world. Over 250 artists from 30 countries have painted the white walls of the village with monumental murals, calligraphic artworks, and surreal installations. The result is a fascinating open-air gallery where Arabic calligraphy meets European expressionism, African patterns meet Japanese manga art.

The art is everywhere: on house walls, garage doors, in abandoned courtyards. A walk through Erriadh takes 1–2 hours and constantly brings new surprises. The residents are proud of "their" open-air museum and are happy to help with orientation.

Erriadh. Freely accessible, around the clock. Best in the afternoon with slanting light for photos.