Beyond Tripoli
Benghazi is Libya’s second-largest city, located on the Eastern edge of the Gulf of Sirt. Far more commercial and less aesthetically pleasing then Tripoli, Benghazi is nevertheless a popular tourist spot due to its close proximity to a number of beautiful beaches. Ras Alteen is a nearby beach with pristine white sands. It has recently been the location of an amazing archaeological discovery where Greek and Byzantine graves from a colossal underwater city were recovered. Other historical sites include the battlefield of Tobruk, 140km east of Ras Alteen, and the town of Cyrene, 245km east of Benghazi. The lush forested range of the Green Mountains is easily reached from Benghazi and Ras Alteen and is a great area for walking. A suspended cave named after the apostle Mark, who was thought to have been raised in the Green Mountains, can be found in the Marcus Valley.
Ghadames, known as the ‘Pearl of the Desert’, is a unique desert oasis town 800km (500 miles) southwest of Tripoli. The old town’s unique architecture consists of white-washed mud walls and covered labyrinthine walkways that are only lit by overhead skylights and open squares. Worth seeing are the D’jmaa al-Kabir mosque, where the minaret can be climbed for a wonderful panorama of the city; Mulberry Square, site of the old slave market; and the House Museum, that displays traditional mercantile furnishings.
Nearby are the Zallaf Sand Dunes, home to the native Tuareng tribe. Saline lakes with high mineral content and palm trees surround the dunes. In this unusual environment visitors can enjoy relaxing sand baths and salt-lake bathing.
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