Houmt-Souk (pop. 20,000), chief town and administrative center of Djerba, lies on the north coast of the island. The name ("market quarter") points to a long tradition as a trading town. The Romans, recognizing the advantages of this situation on the open sea, founded a settlement here to which they gave the name of Girba, and this rapidly developed into a busy trading center.
The Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires is located in the Zaouia of Sidi Zitouni and displays traditional clothing, jewelry, pottery and everyday items.
Houmt-Souk has a small fishing harbor, an attractive old town and a picturesque and labyrinthine souk in which there are markets on Mondays and Thursdays. The displays of goods in the souk, now mainly designed to cater for tourists, include jewelry, clothes for the whole family, shoes, silk, brass and silverware and leather goods. Locally made woolen blankets, usually red, in traditional geometric patterns, are also popular souvenirs.
In the souk quarter of Houmt-Souk are a number of old fondouks or caravanserais - combined warehouses and inns, several storeys high, built round an arcaded courtyard. In the past the fondouks provided accommodation for traveling merchants and safe keeping for their wares. Some of them are now modest hotels or restaurants.
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