Tripoli – The Capital of Libya

The ancient charm of the Libyan capital has not yet been lost by the sprouting of modern ugly buildings that the oil boom has produced. The winding narrow streets of Tripoli’s old town still incite travelers to leisurely walk upon them and explore its various tourist attractions.

The Phoenicians founded the city in the 7th century BC. It always had an excellent natural harbor where later the Greeks and Romans anchored their ships, disembarked their troops, and established their settlements in the town which they named ‘Oea’. It gradually grew big to become Libya’s capital, the country’s commercial hub, and its most sought-after tourist destination.

Tripoli has a wealth of archaeological sites dating back to ancient Greek and Roman times. The city also came under Turkish and Italian occupation. All these colonial masters over a period of several centuries left their legacies on the city’s architectural style.

Unfortunately traces of the Phoenician settlement are practically non-existent now. Some fine examples of Roman architecture are still in evidence. The best of these is the Arch of Marcus Aurelius of 163 AD vintage built totally in marble. You will enjoy it more if you ‘discover’ it yourself without being chaperoned by a guide. Walk along the harbor until this stunning archaeological site catches your attention.

The Old Town area called Medina is a treasure trove of historical relics. The astounding archaeological site here is the Red Castle, in local lingo Assaraya al-Hamra, It is a maze of courtyards, narrow streets, palaces and residential units built over several centuries bearing the distinct stamp of different rulers of the city, sometime European Christian and often Islamic.

There are fantastic markets, called souks locally, selling traditional jewelry and clothes. There are also impressive Turkish mosques, like the one known as Karamanli, with exquisite interiors.

Medina is also an excellent place for sightseeing and shopping. Walk straight to the enchanting ethnic bazaar that offers traditional items like jewelry, local handicrafts and clothing. The roadside eateries offer excellent local cuisine.

The other relics of historical importance are the Ottoman fountains located in many parts of the city and several ancient statues that have survived the religious bigotry of Muslim rulers.

A day trip could be made to the Roman cities of Sabratha and Leptis Magna and the Greek ruins of Cyrene.

The man-made tourist attractions are great but they are all history now. What is eternal is its natural beauty contained in its picturesque landscapes either bordering the mysterious Sahara desert or the serene Mediterranean Sea and, to top it all, the warmth of its people.

A rock-bottom hotel costs around $40 a night and climbs up to $200 for a decent place to stay. You won’t regret going early to bed unless you enjoy seeping tea and smoking hubble-bubble at a road-side joint and watching the crowds of people indulging in the same activities or engrossed in shopping.

Steeped in history, Tripoli of Libya is a great place to be in. It will be a wonderful travel experience to explore its enchanting archaeological sites. But don’t by mistake land up in the city of the same name in the neighboring Lebanon!