El Ghriba Synagogue

Medenine Governorate, Tunisia

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Located in the Jewish village of er-Riadh on the island of Djerba in Tunisia's Medenine Governorate, El Ghriba Synagogue—also known as the Djerba Synagogue—is believed to be the world's oldest synagogue. Built in Moorish architectural style, the structure may date to the 6th century BCE, though it was extensively renovated in the 19th century. Legend holds that a stone or door from Solomon's Temple or the Second Temple is incorporated into the building. Beyond its historical significance, El Ghriba has long served as the center of Djerba's Jewish life and remains a major pilgrimage site, standing among approximately twenty synagogues that were in active use on the island through the 1950s. Now a listed monument of Tunisia and part of Djerba's UNESCO World Heritage designation (established in 2023), the synagogue has endured multiple terrorist attacks but continues to function under heightened security protocols.

Movement

Moorish architecture

Type: synagogue
Heritage: listed monument of Tunisia
Place: Medenine Governorate, Tunisia

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Location

33.81389, 10.85944