Tripoli
(Trablos), 85 kilometers north of
Beirut, 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 14th
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 the bathing-house, which followed
the classical pattern of
Roman-Byzantine baths, and the "khan"
or caravansary. The souks, together
with the "Khan" 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 a period of autonomy
at the end of Seleucid era.
Under Roman rule, starting with the
takeover of the area by Pompey in
64-63 B.C.,the Romans built several
monuments here. The Byzantine city
of Tripolis, 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
Omayyads. 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
il-'ilm, with its thousands of
volumes. During the Crusaders'
180-year rule the city was the
capital of the "County 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 built
inland near the old castle. It was
at this time that numerous religious
and secular buildings were erected,
many of which still survive today.
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.
Tripoli
Today Modern
Tripoli, which has a population of
about 500,00, is divided into two
parts: El-Mina, (the port area and
site of the ancient city) and the
town of Tripoli proper.
The Medieval city at the foot of the
Crusader castle is where most of the
historical sites are located.
Surrounding this is a modern
metropolis which is occupied with
commerce, banking and recreation.
The area known as
"at-Tall", dominated by an
Ottoman clock tower (built in
1901/2) in the heart of downtown
Tripoli, is the transportation
center and terminus for most taxi
routes.
When shopping in the old souks or
downtown area, remember that gold is
a good buy. Other popular items are
Tripoli’s famous sweets and
traditional olive-oil based soap,
water pipes and brass work. Al Mina,
the port area, is a good place to
find sea food restaurants and fish
markets. The city’s most
comfortable hotels and Western-style
restaurants can be found in the
beach resorts south of the city.
Major
Cities - Tripoli
