day 08: chenini – ksar quled soltane - djerba

After breakfast we'll chase sun-kissed moments in Chenini, capturing Instagram-worthy shots of ancient architecture and breathtaking views! Chenini is a captivating Berber village in southern Tunisia, perched on a hilltop in the Dahar Mountains. This ancient settlement boasts stunning cliff-side dwellings carved directly into the rock, offering a glimpse into the resilient lifestyle of its former inhabitants. The Seven Sleepers is a legend shared in both Christian and Islamic traditions. There are a few locations across the world that link to the story - an important one here in Tunisia. The core of the story involves a group of young men who fled persecution for their faith by hiding in a cave. They fell into a miraculous sleep, with a dog guarding the entrance. According to the Quran, they slept for 309 lunar years and were guarded by a dog, whose name is traditionally given as Qitmir. When they woke, they found the world had changed, and they eventually died and were buried. 

We are heading to the Island of Djerba via Ksar Ouled Soltane. Like other ksour (plural of ksar) built by Berber communities Ksar Ouled Soltane, is located on a hilltop, to help protect it from raiding parties in previous centuries. It was featured in the film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in some of the scenes used to represent the slave quarters of Mos Espa, where the character Anakin Skywalker lived as a boy. Djerba Island has also featured in many stories and movies and civilizations. It is supposed to be The Land of the Lotus Eaters where Ulysses was nearly trapped on his Odessy. Inhabited since Antiquity by Amazigh- the original People of the Maghreb, the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Egyptians, Araba, Ottomans, Spanish and French have all tried to take it and hold it.

According to their oral history, the Jewish minority has dwelled on the island continuously for more than 2,500 years, following the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. Pottery on Djerba has a 4000 year history, dig down and the desert island produces great clay. We will visit the Guellala Museum after crossing the Roman Bridge onto the Island, check out their great displays about local culture. Home for the next few days is a lovely hotel built in a converted caravanserai in the Medina of Houmt Souk. Evening is yours! Explore the island's vibrant markets, savor local cuisine, and soak up the atmosphere. Or, get ready for a swashbuckling adventure! Book a pirate boat trip with thrilling fire dance shows, and make unforgettable memories under the starry sky. Your evening, your way! Home for the next few days is a lovely hotel built in a converted caravanserai in the Medina of Houmt Souk. 

Overnight in Djerba. Dar Djerba or similar.  

(B/-)