Regions of Libya

Tripolitana

Covering the north-western part of Libya, Tripolitania is the heart of modern Libya and the site of its burgeoning capital, Tripoli. It is also the setting for two of the most impressive and bestpreserved Roman archaeological sites in the world - Sabratha and Leptis Magna.

Tripoli itself is an unusual blend of ancient and modern. Its bustling medieval walled Medina is an amazing mixture of Arabic and European buildings with neo-classical houses sitting alongside churches, mosques and souks. Beyond its walls, lie astonishing ‘Mussolini’ and neo-Romanesque style buildings built by the Italians during the 1920’s and 1930’s. The impressive Jamahiriya Museum, houses a fascinating collection of important treasures.

Sabratha reached its zenith as a Roman colony in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, though later abandoned and forgotten until rediscovered in the early 20th century. Today, its fascinating Roman and Punic museums and spectacular remains are a unique record of the past. Leptis Magna was once one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire, the remains of this greatness can be discerned from the impressive ruins, thankfully preserved since the 11th century under shifting sand dunes until rediscovered in the 1920’s. Nearby is the Villa Silin, an exquisite 20-room Byzantine villa, which is beautifully preserved and has spectacular mosaics and fragments of fresco.

To the south-west, through the Nafusa Mountains with their unique berber Ghurfas (grain stores), is the oasis town of Ghadames, a UNESCO World Heritage City. Once the southern outpost of the Roman Empire and a major hub on the ancient caravan route, today it is an extraordinarly well-preserved labyrinth of richly decorated houses, rooftop terraces and winding alleyways.

Cyrenaica

Though technically covering the entire eastern part of Libya, it is really only the Mediterranean coastal strip of ‘historical’ Cyrenaica, that is of interest to the visitor. This region is unlike anywhere else in Libya, with the Jebel al-Akhdar (Green Mountains) running along much of the coastline resulting in a greener, but no less beautiful landscape. It is here that the important remains of ancient Greek colonies are to be found.

There are regular flights between Tripoli and Benghazi, which is currently the only gateway to the region. (At the time of publication, Tobruk Airport in the east of Cyrenaica is closed for rebuilding). From here it is possible to access a treasure house of archaeological remains, legacy of the Greek, Byzantine and Ottoman colonies that once existed all along the coast.

There are numerous important sites to be seen: Tokra, one of the Cyrenaic pentepolis, where there is also an old Turkish fort; Tolemitha (Ptolomais), which lies in a picturesque seaside setting and has a small museum housing wonderful mosaics discovered here, and Qasr Libya where there is an old Byzantine villa, a Turkish fort, and a museum housing fifty beautiful Greek mosaic panels discovered in the 1950’s. The highlights of the region, however, are the beautiful Greek city of Cyrene, which is set on terraces and has a wealth of remarkable remains and an excellent museum, and Apollonia, which is situated on rocky coastline and has magnificent relics from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods.

In addition to its antiquities, Cyrenaica also played an important role in the North Africa Campaign of World War II, and the legacy of this is all too evident, especially at Tobruk.