According to Business Carriers, Tripoli is the second largest city in Lebanon and the main port in the northern part of the country. It is located 85 km north of Beirut. It is believed that the first people appeared here in the 14th century BC. In the 9th century BC. on this place the Phoenicians founded the city of Trablos, which became a major trading port. Under the Arabs, Tripoli became the center of shipbuilding, and under the Turks it became the main city of the northern part of the Lebanese coast.
Modern Tripoli is divided into 3 parts: the Old City, the port area of El Mina and the modern city surrounding them. In the center of the Old Town is the medieval fortress Saint-Gilles. It was built by the Crusaders in the 13th century. To this day, in addition to the fortress itself, sections of the walls, as well as some buildings of the Mamluks of the 14th century and the Turks of the 16th century, have been preserved from the ancient fortifications. The fortress was rebuilt more than once, the last significant rebuilding it underwent in the 19th century. There are many tunnels and passages inside it, and a beautiful view of the city opens from the towers and walls of the fortress. Another attraction of the Old City is the Great Mosque. It was built by the Mamluks in 1315 on the site of the destroyed Cathedral of St. Mary, erected in the 12th century by the Crusaders. The architecture of the mosque still traces the features of Western architecture that have been preserved since the time of the Crusaders, for example, the minaret of the mosque was originally the belfry of the cathedral. East is interesting Al-Kartauiya Madrasah (first quarter of the 14th century). This is one of the most intricate buildings in the city. The madrasah has an elegant black-and-white facade, and inside it is decorated with ornaments. Near the madrasah are the oldest still operating Turkish baths of the city – Hammam El Abed. It is believed that they were built at the end of the 17th century. The interiors of the bathhouse are a real museum: there is a fountain in the center, which is surrounded by benches and dressing rooms decorated in Turkish style. Not far from here, the Khan El-Sabun caravanserai, the so-called “soap yard”, is interesting. Since ancient times, European merchants who arrived in Lebanon stopped here. for the famous olive soap, and later – a whole soap factory began to operate. Now in Khan El-Sabun there are numerous shops selling soap. To the northeast, it is worth visiting the Hammam Izz ad-Din baths , which were donated to the city by one of its governors; mosque-madrasah Burtasia of the first quarter of the 14th century, the mihrab of which is covered with golden mosaics and the oldest mosque in the city of Abd El-Vahid of 1306. In the southern part of the Old City, the Taynal Mosque of 1336, decorated with multi-colored marble, the largest baths of the city, which have not been working since the 1970s, are of interest – Hammam El Jadid, and the church of St. John. However, if you want to feel the spirit of ancient Tripoli, then you need to visit the areas of ancient markets and caravanserais, especially the El-Kharaj market, which has been operating since the 14th century. These areas have changed little over the past 500 years: among the bustling malls selling all kinds of souvenirs and handicrafts, there are craft workshops.
If you head north to the port area of El Mina, you can see the quadrangular Lion Tower from the mid-15th century. It was erected under the Mamluks to protect the city from attacks from the sea. The tower got its name in the 19th century, when ornaments depicting lions began to decorate its entrance. El Mina Port Area- a great place for walking. On the local promenade there are many restaurants where you will be offered to taste dishes from all kinds of seafood. From here, excursions depart to the nearby Isle of Palms, on which a nature reserve has been extended since 1922. The island is located 6 km northwest of Tripoli. In spring and autumn, during the migration season, you can see about 300 species of birds here, and from May to August, large-headed sea turtles nest on the shores of the island. From Tripoli, you can also go south, where sandy beaches with hotels stretch along the coast (the most popular are located in the cities of Chekka and Batrun), or east to the mountains of Lebanon, where the country’s highest mountain resort – Cedars is located.
