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Even though overpowered by
Houmt-Souk, each of the other tiny towns on the island, is
noted for some specialty in its artisan's handiwork or is a
place of historic importance. Ajim, from where a ferry can
be taken to the mainland, is a sponge fishing town; El- May
has a colorful market; Fatou produces fine hand-woven
baskets and rush mats; Guellala has been the center for the
hand manufacture of exquisite ceramics and pottery since the
time King Midas; La Ghriba is noted for its synagogue and
adjoining monastery whose foundations were laid in 584 B.C.;
Mahboubine is famous for its backyard gardens; Midoun is
celebrated for its Gougou dancers; and Sedouikech is
well-known for its handmade camel muzzles, fishing baskets
and straw hats.
Enhancing these and other
villages, are Djerba's annual 300 days of sunshine and warm
blue waters with their cooling breezes, edged glittering
sands, embellished by the many attractive and comfortable
modern hotels with the most up-to-date tourist facilities.
Without disturbing the calm and peace, 125 of these
eye-catching tourist palaces - the largest Dar Djerba with
2,500 beds - built in traditional menzel style, fit neatly
into the palm-saturated landscape. Nature and the edifices
built by man have merged together to strengthen the island's
magic spell.
These attractive and
comfortable hotels, hospitable and friendly people with a
slow-moving lifestyle, breathtaking countryside, mild
winters, cool summers and tantalizing sea, make Djerba one
of Tunisia's most popular tourist spots. Located on Europe's
doorsteps, the island which some call the 'Little
Mediterranean Polynesia' has since the time of Ulysses been
drawing travelers. Annually, it hosts some 600,000 visitors
- 50% of these Germans.
With the softness of its
sweet-serene air, perfumed with the flowers of the many
fruit trees, overshadowed by clear blue sky and ringed by
golden sands, this paradise isle entraps even the most
skeptical visitor. Our guide had a point when he remarked as
we climbed the ferry at Ajim for the mainland, "I always
think of Djerba as Tunisia's isle of
forgetfulness."
With a population of around 60,000. Djerba is a popular tourist
destination, particularly for French,
German, Italian and Czech tourists. It is one of the few remaining
places in Tunisia where a Berber language is still spoken. Another
factor drawing some tourists to Djerba is the 1977 location of the Mos
Eisleyfirst Star Wars movie, filmed in the town of Ajim.
The beautiful island is noted as a center of the
Islamic sect al-Ibadhiyah and is also noted for its Jewish minority,
which has dwelled on the island for centuries, although populations
have declined due to emigration to Israel and France since 1967. The El
Ghriba synagogue is the oldest and one of the most famous in the world.
In the early 20th century the island of Djerba had a population of
forty thousand, several hundreds of whom were Maltese Catholics earning
a livelihood as sponge-fishers.
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About Tunisia 
