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Spiekermann
Tour Itinerarys...
ROMAN LIBYA Itinerary
Oct. 31 FLY TUNIS TO TRIPOLI (OR Oct. 30th depart USA to Tripoli)
Depart Tunis for Tripoli. You will be met upon arrival and helped with
formalities before transferring to the hotel. Walking tour of modern Tripoli
including Algeria Square with its imposing former cathedral-turned-mosque, and
the Green Square, Tripoli’s hub. Dinner and overnight. (D)
November 01 TRIPOLI
Spend the day exploring Tripoli (ancient Oea), founded by the Phoenicians in
the second millennium B.C. and transformed by the Romans in 146 BC.
First stop will be the interactive Libya Museum with its touch-screen
technology giving an impressive overview of Libya past and present. Continue
to Ahmed Karamalli Pasha Mosque built by the founder of the Karamalli Dynasty
in 1738. Stop to visit the house of the Karamalli built in the second half of
the 18th century, now an interesting museum that depicts the life style of
that period. Have lunch in a traditional restaurant before returning to the
hotel for a rest. In the afternoon your tour will continue in the old medina
with its maze of narrow alleyways, elegant mosques and the animated souk.
Visit the Gurji Mosque built in 1832 and finish with the Arch of Marcus
Aurelius, the only remaining evidence of the Roman Empire in Tripoli. Dinner
and overnight. (B,L,D)
November 02 SABRATHA
This morning depart for Janzur punic necropolis, which is a very unique
hypogeum, then continue to Sabratha, which was designated an Emporium, or
trading post, by the Phoenician merchants. Sabratha boasts one of the most
magnificent and interesting Roman theaters and one of the most splendid
mosaics of the Byzantine period. Tour the Mausoleum of Bes, the South Forum
Temple, the Basilica of Apoleius, the Antonine Temple dedicated to Marcus
Aurelius, the Basilica of Justinian, the Curia, the Baths, and the Temple of
Isis. Have lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Tripoli to visit
the National Museum which houses a fine collection of the country’s
archeological heritage. Back to the hotel for some free time before dinner and
overnight. (B,L,D)
November 03 TRIPOLI to BEN GHAZI – PTOLEMAIS - SOUSSA
Depart on an early flight to Ben Ghazi and start your day in Ptolemais, which
was founded in the 3rd century BC. Begin your tour at the Museum which houses
wonders such as the four seasons’ mosaic and the fountain of the eight dancing
Menadi. Then on to the remains of the Arch of Constantine before heading to
the Columns Palace, the most famous building in Ptolemais, and the great
cisterns. Drive to Qsar Libya, known as the Old Olbia, it was the residence of
its bishop, named after Justinian’s wife. It has two churches of great
interest that are famous for their extraordinary architecture and splendid
mosaics. Continue to the Hotel Manara or similar in Soussa for dinner and
overnight. (B,L,D)
November 04 APOLLONIA- RAS ALHILAL - LATHRUN
Your first stop of the day will be in ancient Apollonia. It was Cyrene’s port
for a thousand years and its ruins form an essential part of the whole
archeological complex originally constructed by the Greeks when they began
developing their naval merchant fleets. Modern Sousa (ancient Apollonia) was
founded in 1897 as a colony of Muslim refugees from Crete.
The first important monument visited is the Extra-Mural Church, remarkable for
the traces of a triple apse that remain in the cactus garden at its east end.
Continue toward the theater remodeled by Emperor Domitian, 92-96 AD; it was
originally built during the Hellenistic Period of Greek architecture. Tour the
museum before lunch. End your day of exploring Cyrenaica with a visit to Ras
Alhilal, to see the fifth century church and the surrounding area of Lathrun,
with one of the best kept byzantine churches of Libya. Return to Soussa with a
stop at the Hawa Ftij Grotto, believed to have been a human settlement for
over 80,000 years. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
November 05 CYRENE to BEN GHAZI and TRIPOLI
Today’s excursion is to the City of Cyrene. According to legend that is
loosely based on historical tradition, the city was founded by Greek
immigrants from the modern island of Santorini. Cyrene has witnessed an
interesting and varied history including the Era of the Republic, the conquest
of Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic rulers, the overthrow by the
Romans, the siege of the Byzantines and the Arab invasion in 635 AD. Start
with the site museum, sheltering a huge collection of Hellenistic artifacts,
busts, statues belonging to the school of Phideas. Visit the agora, the Forum
of Proculus or Caesareum, the Capitolium and most importantly the Tomb of
Battus, the founder of the City. Explore the Acropolis Hill, still yet to be
excavated, then continue downhill to visit the Fountain and Sanctuary of
Apollo. Linked to Greek mythology, the Fountain of Apollo was the main reason
that the city was founded on this site. The sanctuary also includes the Temple
of Jason Magnus and the Temple of Isis. In the same area you will also visit
the Greek theater, transformed by the Romans into an amphitheatre. After lunch
tour the Great Temple of Zeus, along with the Necropolis of Cyrene, it is one
of the most extensive cemeteries ever found in the ancient world. Head to Ben
Ghazi airport for the flight back to Tripoli. Transfer to your hotel for
dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
November 06 LEPTIS MAGNA
Visit the jewel of Libya, Leptis Magna. Founded by Phoenician merchants around
the beginning of the first millennium BC it is one of the best-preserved
cities of antiquity. Begin at the entrance of the main street with the Arch of
Septimius Severus built to celebrate the arrival of the great Emperor. Then on
to the Palestra, a place for sports and games, and the Baths of Hadrian.
Continue to the Street of the Colonnades and the Nymphaeum, a semicircular
construction containing a pool and fountain surrounded by walls built under
Severus. Tour the Severan Forum and the adjoining Basilica before heading to
the harbor, once the natural mouth of Leptis Valley. In the northern corner of
the old forum are the remains of tiles from the time of the Emperor Augustus
30 BC - 14 AD. Have lunch in a restaurant near the site. Visit the Museum and
the Amphitheater built in the period of Nero around 56 AD. On our way back to
Tripoli, stop at Villa Silin and marvel at the nilotic mosaics and the indoor
paintings of the summertime mansion. Dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
November 07 TRIPOLI to USA
Today you bid farewell to Africa as you depart Tripoli for Europe with a
connecting flight back to the U.S or continue in Libya for exploring its
Berber culture and desert gems. (B)
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