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Tripoli, (Trablos), is situated at 85 km to the North of Beirut, and it is the capital of Northern Lebanon, and the second main town in Lebanon. It’s a town of legendary hospitality, where the present is well adapted with history and where the vibrant economical activity joins with a happy style of life. Tripoli contains innumerable antiquities vestiges amidst them some 40 monuments, whose dates goes back to the 14th century and which were subscribed at the inventory of historical monuments.
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Some Historical Landmarks
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The site of Tripoli had been inhabited since the 14th century B.C but it was only starting from the 9th century that the Phoenicians established in it a little commercial counter.
Under the successors of Alexander the great, during the Greek period, Tripoli had been used as a naval base.
Under the Byzantine domination, the town as well as several coastal towns, underwent an acute earthquake and a Fierce sea Flood Tide (551).
At the 12th century, the crusaders who invaded the city did huge destructions in it, and then the town failed under the domination of the Mamelouks, from them the Sultan Qalaoun who destructed the old port and rebuilt a new one in addition to Sundry Religious buildings. During the ottoman domination, Tripoli recuperated a part of its prosperity, some researches led to a revelation of a part of the old port at the south and of a necropolis dating since the Greek period.
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Tripoli is worth of more than a simple walk:
It is the second main town of Lebanon…
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The citadel St. Gilles is one of the jewels of Tripoli. Built initially at the 11th century, it had been the witness of a rich history, of periods of multiple influences whom secrets are well kept until today even in its stones. Majestic and imposing, it dominates Tripoli and displays more than an agreeable and instructive walk along the course of its allies, a magnificent panoramic sight of the town and of the sea coast.
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The medieval heart
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First step of visit:
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The descent since the citadel towards the medieval town, is a magic place which should be absolutely discovered through walking after having crossed a vaulted path way, the specialized Souks (Markets) are a labyrinth with inextricable foot paths by following exactly their itinerary the ancient galleries with oriental colors, lead to Souks recently renovated like that of the jewelers, equally restored is the khan of Khayatines (Taylors) which is punctuated with very beautiful transversal arcades, by which is filtrated the light of the day here and there succeed the shops of Tailors which display magnificent artisanal Abayas, decorating this all from side to side.
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The madrassa El-Burtasiya
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Some Souks, like that of the Attarine (Perfumers) which is relatively ill- entertained, should be soon restored. Built by the Mameluks on the Cairo model, these Souks with a style a little baroque constitute the commercial heart of the town, where every kind of merchandises is sold. For the amateurs of the kind, the Souk of NAHASSIN (copper crafts men) offer splendid articles in copper worked. Here and there the street hawkers call the passers-by, inviting them to taste the famous girdle-cake of Tripoli with cheese.
Let us quote also the khan el Saboun (Souk of soap) or caravansary of soap, which conceals a true museum of Aromas, this town have more over, many treasuries of Architecture mainly Mamlouk, for instance the Taynal Mosque (xiv century) the school qartawia and the mixed-up Mihrab of its masque as well as the old schod Al- Burtasiya.
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Second step of visit:
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The El-Mina quarter or the maritime slope of the city lies near the sea coast. But before starting this tour, the Tripoli tans advice you to have a call “special sweets” inside the numerous shops of Arab sweets vendors disseminate along the town. As they advice you to do a little detour to stop some ten minutes inside the shops of the ice cream - makers Ich-Ich and Hadla situated at some meters from the port. The vendors offer an exquisite Lemonade iced made through an old technical of refrigeration of the lemon and orange juice.
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In the port, the fishermen come running to propose to you a little tour in sea.
To go to the four or five islands situated at some kilometers of the cost, the more important is the islands of palms which have a splendid coast of sand punctuated with springs of sweet water. This island is also named Jazirat El Araneb (Island of Rabbits) these Rabbits had been introduced during the French mandate to serve as preys to the administrators. Since then these animals did not quit the island, this place host moreover sundry species of rare birds and is considered as a refuge to green turtles which come to lay their eggs on its coasts. Pure instants of dreams rarely existing today in Lebanon.
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To go/ To Come
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At 85 km at the north of Beirut, Tripoli is connected by the coast free way, the journey lasts 45 min or 1h: 30 depending on the circulation, there are many buses, which connect the two cities at regular times for a moderate transportation price.
Tripoli is equally near the mountains of north Lebanon (1h to 2h of road, the cedars, valley of Qadisha, and climatic station of Ehden) as well of the natural reservations of Akkar. To circulate at Tripoli is not very complicated. The old town where are the historical monuments is situated between the place of Tell and the river Abou- Ali and could be easily crossed at legs. The modern quarters are more spacious and require a car to cross them (numerous taxis exist) but the roads are clearly indicted and the main roads of the town are easy to distinguish.
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To sleep
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The Quality INN is a modern establishment very suitable which lies on the boarder of he international Trade Fair we recommend you the rooms, which give panorama on the site with, also view of the snowed mountains.
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Hotel
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In a kind less standardized, try the Sunset Hotel Resort, it’s easy in it to reside near the sea, to benefit of the sum abroad of a pond, to enjoy good moments of sunset and to degustate a delicious dinner in the hotel restaurant.
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To Eat
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Tripoli is a high place of gastronomy whose reputation rise mainly from pastry making. The sundry establishments attract the crowds of all the world . It is possible to taste on site or to purchase to take away.
The specialties are numerous and all of them tasty for instance: Halawet el jebn (sweet with cheese, literally) the legendary kneffeh (granulated paste with cheese or milk cream irrigated with sugar syrup) and is eaten generally at Breakfast (but served at any time, then the Mafroukeh (pasta made with almonds covered with almonds and stuffed petals) finally, there are a dessert mostly erotic called: Aysh El-Saraya ,and Znoud El Sitt literally (digits of women, a cake stuffed with cream and irrigated with syrup and bruised pistachios).
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The Lebanese cooking impregnated of sun and heartily delicious. Its colors evoke the 1001 sunny landscapes of Lebanon and its diversity which reflects the abundance and the generosity of the Lebanese hospitality.
The shadow of olive trees and of barrels, the odor of orange trees and lemon trees envelop us and recall us that the Lebanese kitchen is a sensual kitchen in which the palate is satisfied but also the eye and the nose are also seduced.
The Lebanese Maza - an assortment of around thirty hot and cold plates do the reputation of the Lebanese kitchen in all the world among these plates the more known is the Tabbouleh and the Fattouch which are salads, some caviars such as the Hoummos, Fatteh and the Mouttabal, or also some vine leaves stuffed and Sambouseks.
The familial Lebanese kitchen offers equally a variety of plates such the ragouts or “yakhneh” these have sundry components like the little peas, the potatoes, etc… In addition, are accompanied with rice assorted with vermicelli.
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To buy
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There are various crafts soaps products in the Souks of khan Es- Sabboun in Tripoli around 40 varieties all in basis of natural essences and are available.
Ask to see these products such as the Aphrodisiac soap a product going back to the middle ages. If the price of the majority of soap is around 1000 leb.p. (0.75 euro) per piece some whose fabrication is particularly complex could attain 250 euros.
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Some needful information
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Population:
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Tripoli counts to day 500.000 inhabitants and is divided in 2: El Mina and Tripoli.
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Moneys and banks
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Deposit and withdraw of liquidity as well as the operations of exchange are exempted of any restriction. The foreign currency could be exchanged in the bank or in sundry shop of for ex change bureau.
The Lebanese found (leb.p) is the monetary unity and is issued in pieces of 250- 500-1 000-5 000-10 000-20 000-50 000 and 100 000 leb.p., banks are keeping a strict bank secrecy and are one of the most active sectors of the national economy.
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Local hour:
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The hour GMT + 3 hours in summer and 2 hours in winter. The change being done at the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of September at 0 hour.
Languages Spoken
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The Arab Language is the official language of the country a distinction could be done between “spoken Arabic “or dialectal and the “Arab written” common to all Arab countries. The French language is highly spread since the French mandate. The English is the language privileged of the business it is more and more known by the Lebanese, therefore you have no problem to speak any language because most of the Lebanese are bilingual. Also all the newspapers and magazines are available in the kiosks and libraries with only 2 days of delay.
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Schedule of work
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The weekly closing day is Sunday. But some supermarkets remain open at least in the morning of this day the horary of the opening days during the week is as follows:
§ Public administration from Monday to Thursday from 8h to 14 the
Friday from 8:00 am to 11:00 am and the Saturday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.
§ Private sector: from 8:00 to 6:00 pm (from Monday to Friday).
§ Banks: from 8.30 am 2:00 pm from Monday to Friday while Saturday until 13H.
§ Magazines: from 9.30 to 16H from Monday to Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays till 13H.
§ Supermarkets: from 8.30 to 20H.
These schedules vary following to seasons and Establishments.
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