Tripoli - Touristic Sites - LebGuide.com (Lebanon Guide)

Tripoli (Trablos in Arabic) is the capital of the North and the country's second largest urban area. Tripoli means "Triple City", because it was a center of the Phoenician confederation with Sidon, Tyre and Arados Island. Since its foundation, probably in the 9th century BC, until the end of the Crusader period, Tripoli was situated around the Al-Mina port district. After its destruction by the Mamlukes in 1289, however, it was replaced by a new town near the hill of the Crusader Castle of Raymond de Saint-Gilles, founder of the County of Tripoli. The castle has been renovated and changed many times during its history, most recently in the early 19th century.

What distinguishes Tripoli today from other archaeological sites in Lebanon is that the Medieval Mamluk town still exists within the contemporary city. Visitors are astonished by the beauty of its monuments that wre built from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century.

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These archaeological treasures include the fabulous Mosques, Saint-Gilles Castle (Qal'at Sinjil), Tower of the Lions, Madrasahs, Hammams and the Khans (Khan Al-Khayyatin or Tailor's Khan). When you visit it don't forget to pass by the traditional souk (market) which is very pleasant.

Modern Tripoli, which has a population of about 500,000, 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.

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