Holiday Ideas for Libya
  
                          Deserts, Oases & Ancient Cities
 

 

Introduction



Libya has often been referred to as "The Land of Sunshine and History" and a visitor to the Great Jamahiriya will find an abundance of both. With Libya's fabulous scenery, mild climate, warm and quiet beaches, wild forests, the mystery and beauty of the great Sahara sand, seas, oases ringed with palm trees, magnificent mountains, waterfalls and springs, natural caves containing prehistoric engravings, beautiful cities and old towns, friendliness and hospitality of the people, rich and colourful culture, unique art forms and traditional handcrafts, it should ensure that a holiday here will be as varied as it is enjoyable.
 
This is a country of stark contrasts, offering visitors an opportunity to view not only some of the greatest Roman and Greek cities in the world, but also the stunning vistas of the Sahara desert. On the Mediterranean coastal strip, near to the capital Tripoli, stand the breathtaking Roman cities of Sabrata and Leptis Magna, while further east, in the beautiful area of the Jabal Akhdar (Green Mountains) are the wonderfully preserved Greek remains of Cyrene and Apollonia. For lovers of the desert, the Acacus region of the Libyan Sahara offers an unassailable attraction with its wild, spectacular scenery and prehistoric cave paintings. If you enjoy 4-wheel drive desert travel, this is a region you should not miss.
 
Tripoli
 
Tripoli, the site of Phoenician Oea founded circa 500 BC, is the capital of Libya. Although no vestiges of the Phoenician settlement remain, there are traces of Roman times including the Arch of Marcus Aurelius (163 AD) constructed entirely of marble. Other sites of interest include the wonderful National Museum, located within Tripoli Castle, and the old medina, within which is a crossway notable for Roman pillars embedded in each corner building. The medina contains interesting souks and mosques, of which the interior of Karamanli Mosque is particularly beautiful. It also makes a good base for visiting the UNESCO world heritage sites of Leptis Magna and Sabratha.

  
 
Sabrata (Sabratha)
 
Settled in the late 5th/early 6th century BC by the Phoenicians, Sabrata's development as a Roman city began in the latter half of the 1st century AD. It reached its zenith in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, particularly during the reign of Septum's Sever us, who was born in nearby Leptis Magna. Much of the city was destroyed by earthquakes during the 4th century, particularly that which took place in 365 AD. A rebuilding program followed but the city was now to occupy a much smaller area. The Vandals ruled in the 5th century but they were expelled under the Emperor Justinian and further building projects took place in the Byzantine era. Sabrata was to survive for a hundred years following the Arab invasion of the mid 7th century AD.
 
The most spectacular site in Sabrata is the Theatre, probably built during the reign of the Emperor Commodus (161-192 AD), with its three-storey backdrop of columns. Other monuments and areas of interest include the Temple of Liber Pater, the Basilica of Justinian, the Mosaics of the House of Jason Magnus, the Capitolium, the Temple of Serapis, the Temple of Hercules and the Temple of Isis.

 
 
Leptis Magna
 
If you only see one archaeological site in Libya, this is the one to choose. Regarded as the best Roman site in the Mediterranean, Leptis Magna's spectacular architecture and massive scale will impress even the most ruin-weary traveller.
 
The city was originally a Phoenician port, settled during the first millennium BC. Slaves, gold, ivory and precious metals brought it great wealth, which was supplemented by the rich agricultural land surrounding it. Roman legions ousted the Carthaginians following the third Punic War, after which the city flourished until the Vandals did their namesake thing in 455.
 
Roman rule briefly returned to Leptis in 533, and intensive repairs were carried out on the city, but local tribes revolted and eventually the area reverted to pastoral nomadism dominated by the Berbers. The Arab invasions of 644 swept away the last traces of Roman life from the region, and in the 11th century Leptis Magna was finally abandoned to the encroaching sand dunes.
 
It was not until the 20th century that excavation began in earnest, and much to archaeologists' delight, the sands had preserved the ruins remarkably well. There is an excellent, large museum next to the main entrance to the site, but the real treasures wait out in the site itself.
 
The first thing you will encounter is the Severan Arch, which was erected in honour of Emperor Septimus Severus' visit to his hometown in 203 AD.
 
Not far off are the marble and granite panelled Hadrianic Baths, the largest outside Rome. Keep exploring and you will come across the partially covered nymphaeum, a shrine dedicated to the worship of nymphs; a pair of massive forums, similar in design and grandiosity to the imperial extraordinarily detailed basilica and theatre; and if you continue west along the seashore about 700m (2100ft), circus and amphitheatre, where chariot races and similar spectacles were held for the locals' amusement.

   

Sahara Desert
 
In the late 19th century, when explorers first began to cross the Sahara, no journey was considered more hazardous. Today with the benefit of modern vehicles it is comparatively safe but just as exciting and destinations which used to take days can now be reached in hours. The desert and dunes are stunning and some of the highlights of the region include:-
 
Ghadames (Pearl of the desert)
 
Ghadames is an attractive oasis town on the edge of the Sahara near the border with Algeria. It was once the southern outpost of the Roman Empire although there is now little evidence other than tombs. The old town of Ghadames is very picturesque, notable for its "cake and icing" architecture and its labyrinthine streets. Interesting sites include the cultural Museum, the Traditional House richly decorated in local style, the Great Mosque, and the Main Square once used as a slave market. Outside of town is to be found Ain al-Dibana Lake (which, although inviting on a hot day, is not recommended for a swim as it is a salt lake and there are no showers available!). There is also a grand sand dune area for those who will not be venturing into the desert proper and who would like a taste of the Sahara.
 
  

Nalut
 
Nalut, located on an escarpment reached by a series of hairpin bends, is the site of a fascinating grain store, some 300 years old, and offers a beautiful panorama of the plain below. The grain store, comprising hundreds of chambers, was used by families to store oil and grain under the watchful eye of a guardian.
  
 
 
Fezzan Region
 
The area of desert in southwest Libya is known as the Fezzan and it is known for some of the most beautiful scenery of the Sahara as well as numerous collections of cave paintings scattered around in the mountains and wadis located here. It is situated on a sandstone plateau that has then been eroded away into thousands of hauntingly beautiful rock formations. It is also home to the Tuareg, a nomadic desert tribe who are also known as the "Blue Men of the Desert" because of their brightly coloured robes.
  
 
 
Sabha
 
Sabha is the largest oasis and the major city in the Fezzan region. It is situated in the middle of the desert where visitors may spend an enjoyable time in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere between golden sand dunes, green palm trees, clear water springs and the ancient ruins and civilization that surround it.
  
Ghat
 
A Tuareg desert town at the entrance to the Acacus, deep in the Libyan Sahara, Ghat once enjoyed prominence as a trading post for caravans crossing the desert, and was active a thousand years ago.  
The old town is now mainly deserted, the population having moved into a newer area of Ghat, and is dominated by a picturesque Italian fort. Ghat may be reached by either a tarmac road from Sabha or through the desert from Ghadames alongside the Algerian border.
 
Germa (Garama)
 
Site of the ruins of the Garamantian cities Garama and Zinchecra which are still under excavation. The Garamantes were a warrior nation who originated in the Tibesti region of the Sahara and here may be seen the remnants of this two-thousand-year-old civilisation that once ruled the Fezzan.
 

Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus
 
Hidden in the wrinkled folds of the valleys and wadis, amid the stunning landscapes of the Acacus Matchandoush mountains, lies one of the most extraordinary concentrations of cave paintings and engravings in the world, all in very different styles, dating from 12,000 B.C. to A.D. 100. They reflect marked changes in the fauna and flora, and also the different ways of life of the populations that succeeded one another in this region of the Sahara.
 
The Acacus Mountains are famous of two reasons. The first is the stunning mountain formations that meet the blue sky and the orange sand dunes. The second are the great collection of rock art, both paintings and carvings.
 
The Acacus Mountains stretch for almost 100 km north to south, but there is a limited number of possible paths. The sand dunes can be deceptive, and the mountains are zigzagged by wadis, seasonal river beds. Although very few people live here now, perhaps only 10 families, the region is not entirely dry. There are few springs in the mountains and a couple of wells.
 
The Natural Arch, about 150 metres high, is the largest of its kind in the Acacus. It is located about 100 km south of Ghat.
 
Ubudi Oases
 
The Great Sand Sea is one of the world's greatest sand dune deserts covering an area almost the size of Switzerland, where few people ever venture. Dune after dune rise 100 or 200 metres above the flat-bottomed valleys of white sand sculpted by the wind into haunting symmetries, stretch as far as the eye can see. Outside of Sebha a series of lakes appear in the middle of these dunes. No, this is not a mirage! There are approximately 21 lakes surrounded by palm trees in this region, the largest being Mafo, Gaberoun, Ummelmaa and Mandara. After crossing the desert, a swim in the lake followed by a rinse with nearby fresh well water is a most wonderful experience.
  
 
 
Cyrenaica Region
 
Cyrenaica was a Roman province on the northern coast of Africa between Egypt and Numidia; in what it today Libya. It was originally settled by the Greeks and most of the historical sites date from this era.
 
The main areas of interest are:-
 
Benghazi
 
Libya's second city, Benghazi, is famed in military history as a supply base during World War II. It was also the headquarters of the Italian forces during their occupation of Libya from 1911 onwards, and this is reflected in much of the Italian style architecture. In the city centre is the monument to Omar al-Mukhtar, the great Libyan resistance leader who fought against the Italian occupation. There is also an extensive and interesting market, Souq al-Jareed.
 
Cyrene
 
In ancient times Cyrene was considered one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean area, second only to Athens. It ranks as the best preserved of the Greek cities of Cyrenaica, with its temples, tombs, agora, gymnasium and theatre originally modelled on those at Delphi. Apart from the spectacular Greek ruins, its location high on a bluff overlooking the sea is stunning. The city covers a huge area and is still only partly excavated. It is not often you find world-heritage sites still in this rather romantic condition: mosaics can still be discovered underfoot, and priceless statues often lie covered with creepers. Enough of the city has been resurrected to give the visitor an impression of how it originally looked but without the over-restored look that detracts from so many classical archaeological sites.
  
 
 
Apollonia
 
Established in the 7th century BC, Apollonia was the port of Cyrene, and remained so for more than a millennium. Its importance was such that it remained autonomous of Cyrene during the Roman period, and even surpassed it as the major city of the region in the 6th century AD. The Theatre is sited in a particularly picturesque location by the sea. Other buildings include the Eastern, Central and Western Basilicas and the Byzantine Palace.
  
 
 
Ptolemais
 
Named after Ptolemy III, in whose reign it was founded during the 3rd century BC, Ptolemais was originally a Hellenistic mercantile city. Its importance increased following the acquisition of Cyrenaica by the Romans in 96 AD, and enjoyed the prosperity that characterized Rome of the period, with extensive public works programmes. Excavations indicate that the population of Ptolemais enjoyed wealth and a high standard of living. During the 3rd century AD, following a decline in the importance of Cyrene, it became the capital city of the region. Like Cyrene, it suffered the earthquake of 365 AD which was followed by a programme of reconstruction. However, in the sixth century AD, Ptolemais suffered a reversal when Apollonia became the capital of Upper Libya and entered a period of near destitution, aggravated by a water supply system that had fallen into disrepair, causing the population to move away. Buildings of interest in Ptolemais include the small but excellent Museum, the Western Basilica, the Columned Palace, the Theatre and the underground Cisterns.
 
Qasr Libya
 
Site of a Byzantine fort and church dating back to the reign of the Emperor Justinian (6th century AD). A floor of stunning mosaic panels was discovered in 1957, the majority of which are now housed in the on-site museum. The collection of mosaics is considered one of the world's finest and, intriguingly, depicts pagan subjects as well as human and animal figures. One panel depicts the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the world.
 
Pharos lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven world wonders