16/10/2024
Tripoli old city (medina) is extremely well preserved. The architecture is attractive and also to be admired. The best way to enter Tripoli old city is through one of the two entrances off of Martry’s Square. The larger entrance was created by the Italians and travels along the eastern side of the old city. This broad street contains a variety of shops and merges with a smaller street at the 19th century Ottoman clock tower. The smaller entrance to Tripoli old city is to the left street that merges with the Italian road and contains shops that sell a variety of clothing and dry goods. Most market areas in the old souq are grouped together with similar products being offered in certain areas. There is a place for buying carpets and textiles, a men’s clothing market, a women’s clothing market, a household goods market, spice markets, a gold and jewelry market, and others. The shops selling gold are especially interesting as they not only carry contemporary jewelry but a wide range of traditional tribal silver and gold work with designs dating back to the original Christian and Jewish craftsmen who taught their craft to the local people The main drag is Sharia Jamaa ad-Draghut with the Mosque of Draghut which leads to the Roman Arch of Marcus Aurelius.
