Tripoli - the capital of what country? Attractions in Tripoli

On the world map there are at least three cities called Tripoli: in Libya, Lebanon, Greece. And there are many geographic objects with a similar name. Let's say, Trypillya, a small village south of Kiev. But he gave the name of one of the Neolithic cultures. In this article we will consider two Tripoli. Which capital of a country is this harmonious name, which is translated from Greek as "three-graduation"? And what then is the second Tripoli? What to see in these two Arab cities? Read about it below.

Tripoli - the capital of Libya

We will not hold on to the intrigue for a long time and clarify all at once. The city of Tripoli is officially considered the capital of Libya. The country is located in the north of the African continent. Therefore, in Libya dominates the dry Mediterranean climate. The city of Tripoli is located in the north-west of the country. This is the largest city in Libya. In 2007, there lived a million seven hundred and eighty thousand people. These are mainly Berbers (indigenous people), Arabs and Tuaregs. Tripoli is also one of the largest ports of the Mediterranean Sea. Here is the university, many international trade companies have opened their representative offices. At the same time, it does not feel at all that Tripoli is the capital of the country. According to the decentralization program adopted in 1988, all ministries of Libya, except for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were transferred to other settlements. About the capital status of Tripoli resemble only numerous embassies. The city has other names. The Arabs call it Tarabulus el Garb, and the Berbers are Trables.

History of Tripoli

This is a very ancient city. It was founded by the Phoenicians in the seventh century BC. Then it was called Ea and was the capital of the Sirtik region. The ancient Romans called it Oea. An advantageous strategic position on the cape at the bay of the Mediterranean Sea contributed to the development of trade and crafts. But it also made the city a tasty morsel in the eyes of various conquerors. In the Hellenistic period, Ea was called the Greek word "tripolis" (three-graduation), since two new districts adjoined the ancient center. In the year 105 BC. E. The city became part of the Roman Empire. Until the seventh century, Tripolis was one of the major cities of Byzantium. After the Arab conquest, he withdrew to the Arab Caliphate. In the Middle Ages, he repeatedly passed from hand to hand. They were owned by Arabs, Spaniards, Knights of the Order of Malta. From the sixteenth and until the beginning of the twentieth century, the city was part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1911, Libya was captured by Italy, and in 1943 - by British troops. Finally, in 1951 the country gained independence. Since then, Tripoli - the capital of Libya.

The city's attractions

When the guns speak, the muse may not be silent. But what exactly does not work is tourism. Libya has always been unlucky with this industry. Until 2003, UN sanctions were in force. When they were filmed, Tripoli, the capital of Libya and its largest port, began to develop rapidly. But the new conflict, which began in August 2011, stopped the tourist flow. And it's a pity: there is much to see in Tripoli and its surroundings. Ancient city center, Medina, hanging on a rocky promontory - this is a museum under the sky. All of it is surrounded by fortress walls. In Medina, the color of the ancient Arab city is preserved: small adobe houses with flat roofs, narrow curves, brisk boughs - colorful oriental bazaar. There are many mosques here. The oldest - Naga - dates back to the tenth century. Also beautiful are the multi-domed mosque of Karamanli (XVIII century) and Gurgi with the highest in the city minaret. Also worth mentioning are the sights of the Lisbon Tripoli, such as the Red Palace or the Kasbah-Saray-al-Hamra, the triumphal arch of Marcus Aurelius (164 AD), the Archaeological Museum with a rich collection of mosaics.

The second Tripoli - the capital?

Lebanon is a state in the Middle East, Beirut considers the main city. But the local Tripoli is the second most important in the country. Its population is five hundred thousand people. This is also a very ancient city. He was founded, like his African namesake, by the Phoenicians. Naturally, at first it had a different name, and not one. In the fourteenth century BC it was called Achliya, then, in the time of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpala II (888-859 BC), - Mahallat. There were other names: Kaiza, Maiza, Atar ... As the city was the capital of the confederation of the Phoenician cities of Tire, Sidon and Arvada, the Greeks began to refer to it as a "three-grad," that is, Tripolis. Throughout the centuries, he consistently passed from the Persians to the Romans, Arabs, European crusaders, Mamluks, Turks. From the twelfth to the thirteenth century there was also the Christian county of Tripoli. So the city also visited the capital.

Attractions of Lebanon Tripoli

Traveling in this Middle Eastern country, you should definitely visit Tripoli. The capital of Lebanon - Beirut - is located only 86 kilometers south of this city, so the road there takes only an hour and a half. It should be said that the current Tripoli is at a distance from the ancient. When the Mamluks captured the city, they cut out all of its population. Therefore, the present Tripoli begins with the fourteenth century. Arabic color is the main attraction of the old city. You should visit the oldest bazaar of El Kharaj, wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets, see the famous mosques of Tainal, Burtaziya, Kvartavia medrese, St. John's church, the Hammam El Jadid and El Abed estates, the castle of the Toulouse count Saint-Gilles. It is good to come to Tripoli at the time of flowering citrus orchards. There are so many of them that throughout the large city there is a pleasant smell of orange blossom. Therefore, the Lebanese call Tripoli "al-fayha" - "exuding fragrance."

Capital ambitions

The second largest city in Lebanon is not going to give up the primacy of Beirut. Local residents claim that Tripoli is the capital of the country by at least three parameters. First, the abundance of citrus orchards. Tasty fresh to you will squeeze out on each corner at ridiculous prices, and not only from the orange oranges we usually like, but also from red, very sweet. Tripoli - the capital of what else? Eastern sweets. To be here and not try Mamul, baklava and kunaf - just a crime. And, finally, Tripoli is the birthplace of the first advertising campaign. In the 15th century, the ruler of the city, Yusuf Be-Saif, founded the production of olive soap. Pieces of fragrant detergent were distributed free of charge in major European cities. After that, Tripoli began to accept numerous merchants and built for them the hotel Khan El-Sabun ("Soap caravanserai").