A city of remarkable cultural riches,
Tripoli has a unique polish of medieval oriental traditions that
its inhabitants kept very much alive till this day. Underneath its
captivating modern looks, Tripoli holds remarkable historical treasures
dating back to around 1400 B.C. The city is divided into two parts;
the first, Al Mina, is the old port area and where ancient Tripoli
once stood. The second is the town of Tripoli, which is the commercial,
financial, & residential centre of the city. A visitor to Tripoli
will probably pass by 4 or 5 historical sites while taking a taxi
ride from the hotel to the market, as there are 45 sites officially
registered by the ministry of tourism.
A very famous landmark is the magnificent Citadel of Tripoli, also
known as Saint Gilles' Citadel; its construction dates back to the
Fatimid era. The citadel was converted to a church by the crusaders,
and in the early 19th century it was restored by Mustapha Barbar
Agha (governor of Tripoli back then) who turned it into a grand
fortress. Today, the Citadel of Tripoli stands restored, overlooking
the city, and welcoming visitors every day.
Numerous historical mosques also set Tripoli apart from other cities,
some of these glorious structures are over 700 years old and are
still open for visitors and worshipers. These mosques reflect the
warm, relaxed, and traditional identity of the old city.
The oldest mosque in the city is the Great Mosque which was built
in the 12th century over the remains of the crusaders' Saint Mary's
Cathedral. The mosque, its “Madrassa” (theological school),
and the many inscriptions on its walls and foundations tell a lot
about life during the Mamluke era.
The old marketplaces or “souks”
of Tripoli are unseparable from the city’s traditional identity.
Some souks are over six centuries old and still jam with shops that
sell all kinds of commodities; like spices, perfumes, meat, fish,
as well as gold, souvenirs and brass artifacts. Of the oldest souks
are Souk Al-Haraj, Khan Al-Khayyatin, and Khan Al-Misriyyin. Another
attraction of Tripoli is its Hammamat; which are public bathing
houses that where originally introduced into the city during the
Mamluke’s period around 1300 A.D. There is a place where you
can go today for a bath from the past; it’s name is Hammam
Al-Abed. Built nearly 300 years ago, it has everything it takes
to make visitors feel they’re living back in the Mamluke and
Ottoman eras; from ceiling domes to a water fountain and windows
decorations.
Along with its traditional riches, Tripoli is a very lively city
that enjoys all the business and leisure facilities of a modern
metropolis; it has everything from malls to theatres, beach resorts,
sidewalk cafes and high class restaurants. Visitors go to the old
port or “Mina” of Tripoli for a boat ride or for a good
fish meal at one of its many seafood restaurants. The Mina over-
looks a few small islands that bring out the sea’s beauty
during sunset.
Tripoli is a must-visit city for its people’s warm welcome,
their hospitality, and of course the city’s unique, pleasant
character. It’s a city which has meticulously preserved its
glorious history for future generations to behold. |
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