Ibn Danan Synagogue

Lonely Planet review

An enthusiastic caretaker will shepherd you through this unassuming but pretty synagogue, which is one of the oldest and most important in North Africa. Built and owned by a prominent Moroccan Jewish family in the mid-17th century, it was renovated to its present form at the end of the 19th century.

The synagogue contains what is thought to be the only complete set of Moroccan synagogue fittings in existence, including a tevah (reader's canopy platform made from wood and wrought iron), hechal (twin carved-wood arks for the Torah), wooden benches, chairs (including Elijah's Chair for the circumcision ceremony) and embroidered hangings. Restored in recent years after being listed on the World Monument Fund's list of the world's 100 most endangered cultural heritage sites, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the Mellah 's rich Jewish history. See for more information. Note that the synagogue is closed on Fridays during Muslim prayer time and for Shabbat.