The great classical cities of Libya have survived in good condition through fortunate accidents of history.  They were abandoned long ago and not built on.  They were then covered in sand and largely undiscovered until the Italian colonisation of the1920s and 1930s.  For all their beauty and interest they are still little visited and are often deserted except for occasional European enthusiasts.  On our tour we cover the major sites of Western Libya, Leptis Magna, Sabratha and the exceptional Jamahiriya Museum in Tripoli.  We also visit  many sites in Cyrenaica, which were under continuous occupation from the early Greek colonists to the later Byzantines of the time of Justinian.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Fly from London Heathrow to Tripoli.  On the way from the airport we visit the ancient cemetery with a lively painted tomb at the Mosque at Janzur.

Day 2 – We spend the day exploring Tripoli.  We visit the remarkable Jamahiriya Museum, which contains important finds of sculpture from the many Roman sites in Libya.  Of particular interest are the mosaics, especially those from Zliten.  In addition there are casts and copies of the rock paintings of pre-historic Libya. Later we walk through the Medina, seeing the mosques and merchants’ houses, and the famous arch of Marcus Aurelius.

Day 3 – We visit Leptis Magna, a major Roman port in North Africa, which grew rich from exports of olive oil and grain.  It had public buildings commensurate with its importance, an impressive forum, Baths and triumphal arch. These were protected through many centuries by a thick covering of sand. Nearby is the Villa Silin, a large well-preserved building with extensive quality mosaics and frescoes.

Day 4 – In the morning we explore colonial Tripoli.  We see fine examples of Italian taste of the 1920s and 1930s, villas and offices, the pastiche Romano-Lombard Cathedral, the Post Office and the neo-Saracenic Palazzo del Governatore.  In the afternoon we fly to Benghazi. 

Day 5 – Over the next four days we explore Cyrenaica, the easternmost province of Libya.  Although it is bordered on the south by the Sahara, there is a high rainfall, a fertile plain and a plateau of ravines and wooded valleys. Greek colonists were attracted to settle here by the proximity to their homeland and the productive soil. We travel through the Green Mountains to Ptolomaïs, where there are interesting remains of the prosperous Roman city, once capital of Libya Superior. We continue to Quasr Libia, which has a marvelous Byzantine mosaic from the time of Justinian, depicting rivers, fishes and surprisingly the Lighthouse at Alexandria.

Day 6 – Cyrene occupies an extensive and beautiful setting, surrounded by pine woods and with views of the Mediterranean. The extensive ruins are a reminder of a long occupation of the site, from its origin around a spring dedicated to Apollo to one of many subsequent reconstructions under the Emperor Hadrian. In the afternoon we visit the strange grotto-sanctuary at Slonta and the Sanctuary of Aesculepius at Al Bayda.

Day 7 – We visit Apollonia, the port for Cyrene.  Here it is possible to see the Byzantine port installations, although much of the ancient port has sunk into the sea.  There is a small Roman theatre, Baths and three Byzantine basilicas.  In the afternoon we visit the basilica of Al Atrun in an unspoilt coastal setting and the small settlement of Ras al-Hillal.

Day 8 – We drive to Benghazi and have time before our flight to Tripoli for a visit to the town and to the World War II cemetery.

Day 9 – We visit Sabratha, which was originally a trading post for the Carthaginians.  It flourished under the Romans in the late second century AD.  It had an extensive residential quarter and a magnificent theatre, which was reconstructed by the Italians in the 1930s.

Day 10 – There is time for a return visit to the museum, further exploration of the Medina or for shopping before the return flight to London

The Classical Cities of Libya Archaeology Tour
Price: £1,695 per person
Single Supplement: £115
Deposit: £200 per person

Price Includes:  9 nights accommodation, full board and a full itinerary of visits accompanied by a Prospect Tour Leader.

Travel: Flights to Tripoli are not included.  We can book your flights for you and will search for the best price available at that time. All flights booked by us must be paid for at the time of booking.

Suggested British Airways scheduled flight timings.