Start your acquaintance with Libya with a visit to Benghazi. This is a city on the Gulf of Sidra in the Mediterranean, to the southeast of Berenice. This is the largest city and the most populous area in Cyrenaica. Naturally, this is a vibrant city with an active life. Besides high population density, Benghazi is a port city, and this fact makes the local lifestyle even busier. This region has become home to many people from Egypt and Crete. In recent years, the number of immigrants from African countries has risen significantly.
Greeks founded this city. This important event took place in 347 AD. Initially, Benghazi was a port city for Romans and Byzantines, but Arabians conquered the area in the 7th century. Wars didn’t stop with the Arabian reign, and the Ottoman Empire claimed the Benghazi region in the 16th century. The city remained a part of the empire until the beginning of the 20th century.
Thanks to the efforts of Libya’s people, who were eager to dethrone Mussolini and end his reign, it became possible to get rid of Italian authority. After the victory, Benghazi became Libya’s capital. The revolution, which took place in 1969, only raised the importance of this city. Nowadays, this is one of the most famous cities in the country because of oil deposits that were discovered in the Benghazi region.
The traditional cuisine of Benghazi has certain peculiarities. For example, local chefs use vegetable oil generously. The abundance of spices can also amaze unprepared tourists. Couscous is a traditional dish in this city. When it is time for dessert, consider ordering a local specialty made from peculiar wheat flour – Asida. This is a porridge-type dish that is very popular in the Middle East. The Libyan variant is sweeter because it contains rub, a sweet date or carob syrup with honey. By the way, just like some other dishes, Asida is eaten without any utensils. Eating with hands is typical in the region.
What interesting can this city offer to its guests? First of all, tourists from all over the world come to see a true treasure of this region - Jebel Akhdar or "the Green Mountain". The mountain is truly breathtaking. This is a true paradise for everyone who likes mountains. In this region, tourists can also visit the cave that was home to Omar Mukhtar, the leader of native resistance against Italian colonists. There are many caves here, so if you like exploring these fabulous creations of nature, an excursion to this attraction will leave many pleasant memories.
Don’t forget to attend another important attraction during your visit to the Libyan city – the ruins of the ancient city of Ptolemais. At a glance, it looks like the city is buried under tons of sand. However, the ruins are in great condition despite the fact that Ptolemais ceased to exist many centuries ago. Visitors can still see elements of the city’s infrastructure, namely, the hippodrome, theater, and amphitheater. These picturesque ruins help to imagine the city that existed in this area during ancient times.
A giant aqueduct provided the city with water. There are ruins of a gorgeous mausoleum, Qasr Faraoun, in the western part of the ancient city. Besides this, there are still ancient tombstones, many of which still have easy-to-read writings dedicated to long-deceased residents of the ancient city. Archaeological excavations help us to find out many interesting facts about the architecture and lifestyle in Ptolemais. Scientists even found ancient laws issued by the city’s authorities.
The main airport in Benghazi accommodates flights from many different countries. It is located roughly nineteen kilometers from the central part of the city. However, many European countries do not have a direct connection with this Libyan city. In this case, they need to fly to the capital of Libya first and then take a bus to Benghazi. Tourists are always welcome to rent a car that will take them to the destination with comfort.
Sightseeing in Libya: things to see
Since recently, Libya has established a regular air connection with many European cities. International Tripoli Airport now welcomes flights from Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London, Milan, Istanbul, Palermo, Valetta, Vienna, Rome, and Paris. It is also possible to reach Libya by ship – there are ferryboats that connect Libya with Malta. Every week, several ferryboats depart from Valetta and head to the port of Tripoli. It takes roughly 12 hours to reach Libya. Tourists can arrive in Libya by bus from Tunis and Egypt. There are regular buses to the Republic of Chad, Algeria, and Niger, but the frequency of these buses is quite low.
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