(85 km north of Beirut) - Roman Temples

Tripoli has a special character all its own.  Thanks to its historical wealth, relaxed lifestyle and thriving business climate, this is a city where modern and medieval blend easily into a lively and hospitable metropolis. known as the capital of the North, Tripoli is Lebanon's second largest city.

Forty-five buildings in the city, many dating from the 11th century, have been registered as historical sites. Twelve mosques from Mamluke and Ottoman times have survived along with an equal number of madrassas or theological schools. Secular buildings include the hammam or bathing-house, which followed the classical pattern of Roman-Byzantine baths, and the khan or caravansary.

The souks, together with the khans, form an agglomeration of various trades where tailors, jewelers, perfumers, tanners and soap-makers work in surroundings that have changed very little over the last 500 years.
 
 

TRIPOLI IN HISTORY

Habitation of the site of Tripoli goes back to at least the 14th century B.C., but it wasn't until about the 9th century B.C. that the Phoenicians established a small trading station there. Later, under the Persians, it was home to a confederation of the Phoenician city states of Sidon, Tyre and Arados Island. Built on the trade and invasion route near the Abu Ali River, Tripoli's strategic position was enhanced by offshore islands, natural ports and access to the interior.

Under the successors of Alexander the Great during the Hellenistic period, Tripoli was used as a naval shipyard. There is also evidence that it enjoyed 3 period of autonomy at the end of the Seleucid era.

Under Roman rule starting with the takeover of the area by Pompey in 64-63 B.C., the city flourished and during this period the Romans built several monuments here.

The Byzantine city of Tripoli, which by then extended to the south, was destroyed, along with other Mediterranean coastal cities, by an earthquake and tidal wave in 551.

After 635, Tripoli became a commercial and shipbuilding center under the Umayyads. It achieved semi-independence under the Fatimid Dynasty when it developed into a center of learning.

At the beginning of the 12th century the Crusaders laid siege to the city, finally entering it in 1109. The conquest caused extensive destruction, including the burning of Tripoli's famous library, the Dar AL'ILM, with its thousands of volumes.

During- the Crusaders' 180-year rule the city was the capital of the "Country of Tripoli."  But Crusader Tripoli fell in 1289 to the victorious Mamluke Sultan Qalaoun, who ordered the old port city (today al-Mina) destroyed and a new city built inland near the old castle.

During the long Turkish Ottoman rule (1516-1918) Tripoli retained its prosperity and commercial importance and in these years more buildings were added to the city's architectural wealth.
 

SELECTED SITES OF TRIPOLI

1. The Citadel

Overlooking the city is the imposing Citadel of Tripoli known as Qal'at Sinjil (Saint Gilles) which has been renovated and changed many times during its history. Today the castle's main features are an octagonal Fatimid construction converted to a church by the Crusaders, some Crusader structures of the 11th-13th centuries, a number of 14th century Mamluke additions, as well as additions made by the Ottomans in the 16th century. The present state of this huge fortress (140 meters long and 70 meters wide) is largely the result of extensive restoration work by Mustapha Barbar Agha, governor of Tripoli at the beginning of the 19th century.

2. Church of St. John of the Pilgrims Mount

Significant remains of this Crusader church were found in the Maronite Cemetery of Saint John about 200 meters south of the Castle on Abu Samra hill. There are two joined chapels, the larger of which has a semi-circular apse.  The smaller one, with a rectangular apse, was reserved for funerary use. The church was surrounded by a large Crusader cemetery.

3. The Great Mosque

Begun in 1294 and completed in 1315, the Great Mosque was built on the ruined 12th century Crusader cathedral of St. Mary of the Tower. Its large courtyard is surrounded by porticos and a domed and vaulted prayer hall.  Inside, one can still see elements of western architecture from the old church, including the northern entrance and the Lombard style bell tower which was transformed into the minaret.
 

Getting There ...
Tripoli is situated on the coast, 85km north of Beirut. (See North Map)
 

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