Tripoli or Oea in antiquity is the largest city in Libya. It is located in the western side of Libya with a population of over 1.5 million. It was first established on the Mediterranean coast along with Sabratha and Leptis Magna by the Phoenicians in 600B.C with the sole purpose to serve as trading posts. As time passed, both Sabratha and Leptis Magna declined , while Tripoli remained a post and commercial center. It is called Tarabulis in Arabic. It is also called Tarabulis Al-Gharb or Tripoli of the west in order to distinguish it from Tarabulis Lebanon. Some historians called it the white city because its buildings were painted white. It is known now by Arous Al-Bahar wa Al-Nahr or The Bride of The Mediterranean and The Manmade River.
Tripoli's climate is influenced by the Mediterranean sea. The summers are hot and dry with a temperature of 30c.while the winters are warm and wet with a temperature of 8c.Tripoli has many classical sites. The old walled city of Tripoli has a street plan that was laid down in the Roman era. Al-Saraya Al-Hamra or The Red Castle is a tourist and residents' attraction. It is located in the center of the city. There are also some wonderful Souqs (markets) in the old city such as Al-Mushier and Al-Turk.
Tripoli is famous for a number of historical mosques like Karamanli and Gurgi mosques. It is also got 3 great gates: Bab Zanata on the western side of the city, Bab Hawara on the south and Bab Al-Bahr on the north.
Today, Tripoli is proud of its past and present, views the future with much optimism
Bzimahoasis
