City Overview
Tripoli is an ancient city founded in the seventh century BC and whose previous inhabitants have included the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantium and Arab dynasties, the Spanish (who invaded in 1535), the Turks (Ottoman rule was established in 1551) and Italians (1911-1943). The end of World War II brought with it an occupying army of Allied forces who granted Libya independence in 1951. A darker period in the country’s history came in the 1980s and 1990s when Colonel Gaddafi’s government was accused of condoning and even orchestrating a series of terrorist attacks in Europe; as a direct result, the US military fired missiles into the capital in 1986. The lifting of UN sanctions in 2003 has helped put the country and its capital back on the road to economic recovery. Today Tripoli, home to some 1.8 million people, has a discernible Mediterranean ambience with a balmy climate and an impressive natural harbour. A strict Muslim faith (alcohol is strictly prohibited) and rich Islamic traditions permeate the fabric of daily life in the city, with Arabic arts and crafts, ornate carpets, opulent handcrafted jewellery (gold and silver), leather goods, pottery and traditional clothing on sale in the city’s souks and shops adding vibrancy and colour to the city.
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