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Spiekermann
Tour Itinerarys...
ROMAN AND BYZANTINE LIBYA Itinerary
March 12 & 13 FLY USA TO TRIPOLI
Depart US for Tripoli. You will be met upon arrival the following day and
helped with formalities. Transfer to a hotel to freshen up before heading out
to enjoy a walking tour of modern Tripoli including Algeria Square, with its
imposing former cathedral-turned-mosque, and Green Square, the hub of the
city. Have dinner at a local restaurant then return to the hotel. (D)
March 14 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. Stop at a
newly opened Interactive Museum with state of the art touch screen technology
that allows visitors to navigate around archaeological sites. Continue to
Ahmed Karamanli Pasha Mosque built in 1738 and a Karamanli house now a museum
depicting the life style of that period. Lunch in a traditional restaurant
then continue your tour in the old medina with its maze of narrow alleyways,
elegant mosques and the animated souk. Visit the Gurji Mosque built in 1832
and the Arch of Marcus Aurelius, the only remaining evidence of the Roman
Empire in Tripoli. (B,L,D)
March 15 TRIPOLI to GHADAMES
Drive into the Berber heartland of the Jabal Nafusa mountain range. Stop at
Qasr al-Haj to visit the beautiful granary qasr and to Nalut to visit another
qasr on the edge of an escarpment with stunning views over the plain. Continue
to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ghadames, “Jewel of the Sahara.” (B,L,D)
March 16 GHADAMES
Enter via the ancient gateway of Bab al-Burr to explore the labyrinthine
streets and enclosed passages of Ghadames’ old town, renowned for its
distinctive architecture. Visit the various small squares, the old mosque and
a madrasa (Koranic school), see the fruit and vegetable gardens and view the
ancient system of irrigation. Lunch will be taken in a richly decorated
traditional house in the age-old manner, sitting on the floor eating from
communal dishes. Climb to the roof of the house to see where the women,
forbidden to wander the streets alone, would use the rooftops as a
thoroughfare. Later in the afternoon, board four-wheel drive vehicles to visit
Ras al-Ghoul (Summit of the Ghost), the remains of an ancient Roman fort,
before heading for the sand dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental, bordering the
countries of Libya, Algeria and Tunisia, to watch the sunset. Return to the
hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
March 17 KABAW, TORMEISA and GHARYAN
Head northeast to Kabaw to visit another fine example of a Berber qasr and to
the abandoned Berber village of Tormeisa situated high on a hilltop with awe-
inspiring views. Continue to Gharyan to have lunch in a Berber troglodyte
house. These ancient abodes, offering protection from weather and invaders,
were built below ground, open to the sky, with a series of rooms off a central
courtyard. Return to Tripoli. (B,L,D)
March 18 SABRATHA
Visit the National Museum with its fine collection of the country’s
archeological heritage. Depart for the Janzur Punic necropolis, a very unique
hypogeum. Continue to Sabratha, 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, South Forum Temple, Basilica of
Apoleius, Antonine Temple dedicated to Marcus Aurelius, Basilica of Justinian,
Curia, baths, and the Temple of Isis. Return to Tripoli. (B,L,D)
March 19 TRIPOLI to BENGHAZI and SOUSA
Fly to Benghazi to visit Ptolemais, founded in the 3rd century BC. Begin at
the museum to see the four seasons’ mosaic and the fountain of the eight
dancing Menadi. Then on to the remains of the Arch of Constantine and the
Columns Palace, the most famous building in Ptolemais, and the great cisterns.
Continue to the Hotel Manara or similar in Sousa. (B,L,D)
March 20 CYRENE
Explore Cyrene which according to legend was founded by Greek immigrants from
Santorini. It has an interesting and varied history: 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 Arabs. Visit the agora,
Forum of Proculus or Caesareum, Capitolium and the Tomb of Battus, founder of
the city. Explore the yet to be excavated, Acropolis Hill, then continue to
the Fountain and Sanctuary of Apollo. Linked to Greek mythology, it was the
main reason that the city was founded on this site. The sanctuary also
includes the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of Jason Magnus and the Temple of
Isis. In the same area you will find the Greek theater, transformed by the
Romans into an amphitheater. Tour the Great Temple of Zeus, along with the
Necropolis of Cyrene, one of the most extensive cemeteries in the ancient
world. Return to Sousa for dinner. (B,L,D)
March 21 APOLLONIA
Stop in ancient Apollonia, Cyrene’s port for a thousand years. Its ruins form
an essential part of the complex constructed by the Greeks to house their
naval merchant fleet. Visit the Extra-Mural Church, remarkable for traces of a
triple apse that remain in the east end cactus garden. Head to the theater
built during the Hellenistic Period of Greek architecture and remodeled by
Emperor Domitian, 92-96 AD. Continue with a visit to Ras Al-Hilal and Al-Atrun
to see the fifth century Byzantine churches and the surrounding area. Return
to hotel in Sousa. (B,L,D)
March 22 TOBRUK
Journey eastwards to Tobruk, a city whose name is synonymous with Rommel,
Montgomery and the Desert Rats. See the Knightsbridge (Acroma) and
Commonwealth cemeteries, the French cemetery and the German memorial. Visit,
the famous Fig Tree with its Australian dugout hospital, Rommel’s operations
bunker and the remains of the tragic American Lady Be Good aircraft that
disappeared on a sortie far into the desert in 1943 and was not discovered
until 1959. Return to Sousa for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
March 23 SLONTAH and QASR LIBYA to TRIPOLI
Drive to Slontah to explore a tiny temple with eerie carvings whose origin has
been variously debated as dating from pre-Greek times to the 4th century AD.
Continue to Qasr Libya; known as the Old Olbia, and later Theodorias, after
the wife of Emperor Justinian. Tour two churches, the Western Church and the
Eastern Church, with splendid mosaics from the latter housed in the on-site
museum. Drive to Benghazi and fly to Tripoli. Transfer to your hotel. (B,L,D)
March 24 LEPTIS MAGNA
Visit the jewel of Libya, Leptis Magna. Founded by Phoenician merchants in 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 it was
built to celebrate the arrival of the great Emperor. Explore Hadrian’s Bath
and the Palestra, a place for sporting events and games. Continue to the
Street of the Colonnades and the Nymphaeum, a semicircular construction
containing a pool and fountain surrounded by walls. Tour the Severus 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. Visit the Museum
and the Amphitheater built in the period of Nero around 56 AD. Stop at Villa
Sillin to see the exquisite mosaics of this summer home. Return to Tripoli for
dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
March 25 TRIPOLI
A casual day, but a unique one as you join a Libyan family for a picnic on
their farm on the outskirts of Tripoli. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner.
(B,L,D)
March 26 TRIPOLI to USA
Today you bid farewell to Africa as you depart Tripoli for Europe with a
connecting flight back to the U.S. (B)
We (STS) reserve the right to change hotels, restaurants or the order of
activities if/as needed.
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