Facts About Libya
    If elements of tourist attraction are the beauty of nature and the deep-rooted heritage then Libya comes at the forefront of touristy countries in view of the existence of tourist attraction elements in its natural landscapes, Enchanting horizons and archaeological treasures.

    Even the desert in Libya is of another kind, in its folds are springs and green oases conveying tranquility and peace, enabling meditation and rousing emotions.

    Archaeological landmarks and majestic historical cities tell the annals of civilizations which settled in these lands, of history and heritage of Libya from engravings on the walls of caverns in Akakus Mountain to Tadrarat Sketches; from Jerma and Zankara civilizations in the south and Karaza antiquities in the center to the vestiges of the eras of Phoenicians, vandals Greeks,

    Ptolemics and Romans on the Coast: Sabrata, Labda, Shehat, Telmathia to the Is- lamic era Cities: Sirte, Zuwaila, Ojla, Ajdabia, Ghadames and Ghat.

All these components, you can find in Libya

• Official name: The Great socialist people's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
• Capital: Tripoli
• Surface Area: 1,1759,540 sq. Km2
• Population: 5.6 million inhabitants
• Population Density: 3. 2inh/km2
• Official language: Arabic
• Other language: English & French.
• Main Cities:
  • Coastal: Zawara, Sabrata, Zawiyah, Tripoli, Khoms, Misrata, Sirte, Agdabia, Benghazi, Derna, Tobruk.
  • Mountain Areas: Nalot, Jado, Gharayan, Al-baida, Shahat, Marj.
• Climate:
  Ideal temperate climate and ever-present spring atmosphere, a varied climate from Mediterranean on the coast and desertic in the south.
  
• Temperature:
  
  • Summer: High Temperature: 27-31 degrees centigrade.
  • Winter: Moderate temperature with warm climate.
• Local time: Greenwich Mean Time +2h (Summer-winter)
• Working Hours:
  
  • Summer from 15/April:
    State Departments: 7 AM - 2 PM from Saturday to Thursday.
  • Winter from 15/October:
    State Departments: 7.30 AM - 2:00 PM from Saturday to Thursday.
• Weekly Holiday: Friday
• Electrical Power: 220 volts, 50 cycles A.C
• Currency:
  Unit: Libyan Dinar (L.D) = 1000 Dirhams
  1U.S.Dollar =1.32-1.37 L.B
  
  Paper Money: 1/4, 1/2, 1, 5, 10 and 20 Dinars.
  Coins: 5, 10 Piasters.
• International Airports:
  Tripoli Universal Airport, Bonin International Airport (Benghazi), sebha Airport and sirte civil Airport.
• Internal Airports:
  Tobruk, Al-Abrak, Hoom, Ghat, Ghadames.
• Seaports:
  Tripoli seaport, Benghazi seaport, Mesrata Seaport, Khoms seaport, Derna seaport, Zawara seaport And Tobruk seaport
• Entry Visa: Required from all except Arab nationals.
• Notice: Alcoholic drinks are prohibited.

• Tripoli:
           Known as Tarabulus in Arabic and Oea in antiquity, Tripoli is the capital of Libya, Once known as the 'White Bride of the Mediterranean', though its many historic mosques and lively medina retain a good deal of character.
  
           Red Castle (Assarai al-Hamra) which sits on the northern promontory overlooking what used to be the sea.
  The massive structure comprises a labyrinth of courtyards, alleyways and houses built up over the centuries with a total area of around 13,000 sq meters (140,000 sq ft). Inside, look for evidence of all the cities (and thus the citadel's) former rulers: the Turks, Karamanlis, Spaniards, Knights of Malta, Italians and several others all left a piece of themselves in its arts and architecture.
  
           Tripoli was founded in the 7th century BC by the Phoenicians, who named it Oea. From the Phoenicians Tripoli passed into the hands of the rulers of Cyrenaica (Barca), from whom it was wrested by the Carthaginians. It next belonged to the Romans, who included it within the province of Africa, and gave it the name of Regio Syrtica. About the beginning of the 3rd century A.D. it became known as the Regio Tripolitana (on account of its three principal cities, Oea, Sabrata, and Leptis, which were leagued together), and was probably raised to the rank of a separate province by Septimius Severus, who was a native of Leptis.
  
           Jamahiriya Museum: These excellent facilities were built in consultation with UNESCO at enormous cost, and the exhibits within are laid out chronologically, starting with prehistory and ending up with the revolution. The most impressive parts are the mosaics, statues and artefacts from classical antiquity, which make up one of the finest collections in the Mediterranean.
  
           The medina is the heart of Tripoli, providing the most visually exciting and certainly the best shopping in the city, if not the whole country. As only a handful of tourists visit Libya, the souq has an authentic air and the goods on display cater to local taste. Even better news is that you'll find absolutely none of the hassle usually associated with a trip to a souq. When you've had your fill of the market scene, the old walled city also contains virtually all of Tripoli's historic mosques, khans (inns), hammams and houses.
  
  
  
  
• Leptis-Magna:
           Located on the coast 120 km east of Tripoli, Leptis Magna is one of the best preserved site on earth & most extensive archaeological sites in the Mediterranean and one of the oldest Phoenician towns in North Africa. Leptis Magna Regarded as the best Roman site in the Mediterranean, its spectacular architecture & massive scale will impress even the most ruin-weary traveler.
           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.
  
           The first thing you'll encounter is the Severan Arch, which was erected in honor 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'll 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 forum in Rome; the extraordinarily detailed basilica and theatre; and, if you continue west along the seashore about 700m, the circus and amphitheatre, where chariot races and similar spectacles were held for the locals' amusement.
  
  
  
  
• Sabratha:
           Wonderfully preserved ancient Roman city. The ruins of the ancient Roman city of Sabratha, around 80km west of Tripoli, are among the highlights of any visit to Libya. Sabratha boasts one of the finest theatres of antiquity.
  
  
  
  
• Ghadhames:
           Ghadhames lies 600km Southwest of Tripoli, close to the borders of Algeria & Tunisia. Famous for its desert architecture, Ghadhames earned the sobriquet 'Pearl of the Desert' the city was Built in the 7th century A.D., with its intercommunicating terrace houses and covered streets, is a city tourists love to visit. Its people are the Touareg, known for their traveling caravans and their love for traditional arts and crafts.
           The old city's fragile houses of clay decorated inside with whitewash to maintain a degree of coolness in the heat of summer are not being maintained. The remarkable traditional housing of Ghadames, therefore, is slowly disappearing.
           The old city is a labyrinth, lit only by occasional overhead skylights and open squares a style unique to this part of the Sahara. It's also small enough to be entirely covered on foot, which is just what you should do when you arrive (bring a torch).
           Dar Magrumah House is an old merchant's house with its original furnishings and decorations kept intact. Sedija Square is surrounded by some superb mud-brick buildings.
  
           Ras al-Ghoul. Roman ruins on the 'Haunted Hill located a 15km outside of Ghadhames brings you to some decidedly non-spectacular,' Ras al-Ghoul. There's a lake nearby that's popular for swimming and picnics.
  
  
  
  
• Appollonia:
           Apollonia was the harbor for Cyrene, 18km west, and because of this it played a critical role in the prosperity of Cyrene and the other cities of the Pentapolis. Most of what the site contain today dates from the Byzantine era (from 5th to 6th century AD) when Apollonia was known as the "city of churches". It had five basilicas and 19 towers.
  
  
  
  
• Cyrene:
           Cyrene is the ancient Greek city locates at 205 Km.east Benghazi, it was the oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region and gave eastern Libya the classical name 'Cyrenaica'.
           It founded as a colony of the Greeks of Thera, traditionally led by Aristotle (later called Battus) of Thera, at about 630 BC, Cyrenaica became part of the empire controlled by the Ptolemies from Alexandria in Egypt and later passed to the Roman empire.          Cyrene was the birthplace of Eratosthenes and there are a number of philosophers associated with the city including Callimachus, Carneades, Aristippus and Arete.
           Cyrene's chief local export through much of its early history, the medicinal herb silphium was pictured on most Cyrenian coins, until it was harvested to extinction.          Though commercial competition from Carthage and Alexandria reduced its trade, Cyrene, with its port of Apollonia (Marsa Susa), remained an important urban center until the earthquake of 365, that Ammianus Marcellinus described it in the 4th century as a deserted city, and Synesius, a native of Cyrene, described it in the following century as a vast ruin at the mercy of the nomads.
           Cyrene is now an archeological site near the village of Shahat, one of its more significant features is the Temple of Apollo which was originally constructed as early as 7th century BC, other ancient structures include a Temple to Demeter and a partially unexcavated Temple to Zeus There is a large necropolis approximately 10 kmē between Cyrene and its ancient port of Apollonia.
           Cyrene A titular see of Northern Africa. The city was founded early in the seventh century B.C. by a Dorian colony from Thera and named after a spring, Kyre, which the Greeks consecrated to Apollo; it stood on the boundary of the Green Mountains (Djebel Akhaar), ten miles from its port, Apollonia (Marsa Sousa). It was the chief town of the Lydian region between Egypt and Carthage (Cyrenaica, now vilayet of Benghazi), kept up commercial relations with all the Greek cities, and reached the height of its prosperity under its own kings in the fifth century B. C. Soon after 460 it became a republic; after the death of Alexander it passed to the Ptolemies and fell into decay. Apion bequeathed it to the Romans, but it kept its self-government. In 74 B.C. Cyrene became a Roman colony.
  Qrennah (Cyrene), Its necropolis is one of the largest and best preserved in the world, and the tombs, mostly rock-hewn, are of Dorian style.