國際上有兩座城市名叫的黎波里，一座是位於阿里河口的黎巴嫩北部港市、北黎巴嫩省首府的黎波里，這座城市建於公元前700年，現為黎巴嫩全國第二大城市，是這個國家的商業、工業和旅遊中心，人們習慣地將這座城市稱為東的黎波里；另一座便是利比亞的的黎波里，為全國政治、經濟和交通中心，人們習慣地將這座城市稱為西的黎波里。十分有趣的是，這兩座城市都是聞名的歷史古城，而且都是阿拉伯城市。阿拉伯人為了區別兩個的黎波里，便將黎巴嫩的的黎波里（即東的黎波里）稱之為「塔拉布盧斯——沙姆」，將利比亞的的黎波里（即西的黎波里）稱之為「塔拉布盧斯——
加爾卜」。兩個的黎波里的名稱均來源於希臘文，意為「三座城市」。東的黎波里是指古城推羅、西頓和阿臘達斯；西的黎波里是指古城奧薩、佈雷撒和萊普蒂斯。本文則介紹利比亞的的黎波里。
提起的黎波里這個名稱，除用作城市名稱外，有時指的黎波里市的塔尼亞地區，有時甚至用來泛指整個北非地區。的黎波里作為城市名稱，有著一段漫長的歷史。的黎波里是一座擁有2700多年悠久歷史的古城。公元前7世紀，腓尼基人在北非地中海沿岸建立起3座城市，這就是奧薩、佈雷撒和萊普蒂斯，統稱為「的黎波里斯」。公元365年，地中海地區發生了一場嚴重的特大地震，3座古城中的佈雷撒和萊普蒂斯在這次地震中被徹底毀滅，唯有奧薩古城倖免於難，雖然遭到相當程度的破壞，但整座城市還是存在，歷經滄桑，發展成為今天的的黎波里市。
公元前145年到公元450年，羅馬人佔領奧薩城達600年之久；從公元450年起，汪達爾人侵佔達80餘年；公元533年到645年，又被拜占庭統治了100餘年。公元7世紀，阿拉伯人佔領這座城市，以此作為定居點，將此地仍然稱為的黎波里，並在這裡傳播伊斯蘭教，使伊斯蘭文化在此地生根，進而在北非地區迅速發展。1510年西班牙人征服這座城市，1551被奧斯曼帝國佔領，1919年到1943年成為意大利的殖民地，從1943年起由英國人統治。1951年，利比亞宣佈正式獨立，的黎波里被定為首都。
從當年的奧薩城發展到今天的的黎波里市，這座城市一直保持著濃厚的阿拉伯傳統風格和特色，舊城區最多的古跡便是清真寺，有建於公元10世紀、重建於17世紀的最古老的查梅勒清真寺，有始建於1736年的最著名的卡拉曼利清真寺，有建於1883年的最大的古爾吉清真寺。舊城區也稱為「紅堡」，突出阿拉伯集市的特點，街道狹窄彎曲，貨攤排列擁擠，部分街道上面蓋有頂篷，防雨防曬，可以全天候售貨。
古香古色的街道，繁華喧囂的集市，高牆深院的住宅，精雕細刻的古寺，呈現在人們眼前的是一幅典型的阿拉伯古城的風景畫。
人們知道，利比亞是非洲地區領土遼闊的國家，但境內90％以上的土地是沙漠或半沙漠，素有「沙漠之國」的稱號。
利比亞首都的黎波里則是地處撒哈拉沙漠北部邊緣、地中海南岸的一片綠洲，市區樹木繁茂，花草競生，空氣清新，氣候宜人，尤其是夏季遊覽療養的勝地，因此人們將這座城市稱為「沙漠中的旅遊城」。
如果說的黎波里的老城區保持著古老的阿拉伯東方色彩，而新城區則呈現出欣欣向榮的現代化都市景象。新城座落在西市區，高樓大廈鱗次櫛比，街道寬闊筆直，兩旁棕櫚成蔭，街心公園眾多，園內綠樹錦簇，鮮花盛開，噴泉湧射，如一顆顆綠色珍珠散落在市區各處。新城區也有許多名勝古跡，如羅馬天主教堂（於1970年改為清真寺）、座落在綠樹鮮花叢中的呈摩爾式建築的白色王宮以及羅馬時代的牆垣。
從海上了望市區，公元16世紀西班牙人建築的城堡歷歷在目。城市北部的港口，年吞吐量超過500萬噸。擁有150萬人口的的黎波里市，工業產值佔全國總產值的一半以上。
Tripoli is the
capital city of Libya. "Tripoli" may also refer to a "Sha'biyah" (top-level administrative division in the current Libyan system). The "Sha'biyah" includes the City, its suburbs and their immediate surroundings (City and "Sha'biyah" are almost coextensive). In older administrative systems and throughout history, there existed a Province ("muhafazah"), State ("wilayah") or City-state with a much larger area (though not constant boundaries), which is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Tripoli but more appropriately should be called Tripolitania.Tripoli (the City or the "Sha'biyah") has a population of 1.68 million. The city is located in the northwest of the country on the edge of the desert, on a point of rocky land projecting into the
Mediterranean Sea and forming a bay. Tripoli was founded in the 7th century BCE by the Phoenicians, who named it Oea.[2]Tripoli is the largest city, the principal sea port, and the largest commercial and manufacturing centre in Libya. It is also the site of
Al-Fateh University. Due to the city's long history, there are many sites of archaeological significance in Tripoli. The climate is typical Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers, cool winters and some modest rainfall.The city was subjected to an
air strike by the United States in 1986, in retaliation for what the US saw as Libya's proven support of terrorism. United Nations sanctions against Libya were lifted in 2003, which is expected to increase traffic through the Port of Tripoli and have a positive impact on the city's economy.In 1510, it was taken by Don
Pedro Navarro, Count of Oliveto for Spain, and, in 1523, it was assigned to the Knights of St. John, who had lately been expelled by the Ottoman Turks from their stronghold in the island of Rhodes. The knights kept it with some trouble until 1551, when they were compelled to surrender.In 1714, the ruling pasha,
Ahmed Karamanli, assumed the title of bey, and asserted a sort of semi-independence of the Sultan, and this order of things continued under the rule of his descendants, accompanied by the brazen piracy and blackmailing until 1835, when the Ottoman Empire ("the Porte") took advantage of an internal struggle.The Ottoman province (vilayet) of Tripoli (including the dependent
sanjak of Cyrenaica) lay along the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea between Tunisia in the west and Egypt in the east. Besides the city itself, the area included Cyrenaica (the Barca plateau), the chain of oases in the Aujila depression, Fezzan and the oases of Ghadames and Ghat, separated by sandy and stony wastelands.The Barbary Wars
In the early part of the 19th century, the regency at Tripoli, owing to its
piratical practices, was twice involved in war with the United States. In May 1801, the pasha demanded an increase in the tribute ($83,000) which the US government had been paying since 1796 for the protection of their commerce from piracy under the 1796 Treaty with Tripoli. The demand was refused, and a naval force was sent from the United States to blockade Tripoli. The First Barbary War dragged on for four years, the Americans in 1803 losing the frigate, Philadelphia, the commander (Captain William Bainbridge) and the whole crew being made prisoners. The most colourful incident in the war was the expedition undertaken by William Eaton with the object of replacing the pasha with an elder brother living in exile, who had promised to accede to all the wishes of the United States. Eaton at the head of a motley crew of 500 US Marines, Greek, Arab and Turkish Mercenaries marched across the desert from Alexandria, Egypt and with the aid of American ships, succeeded in capturing Derna. Soon afterwards, on June 3, 1805, peace was concluded. The pasha ended his demands and received $60,000 as ransom for the Philadelphia prisoners under the 1805 Treaty with Tripoli.In 1815, in consequence of further outrages, Captains Bainbridge and
Stephen Decatur, at the head of an American squadron, again visited Tripoli and forced the pasha to comply with the demands of the United States. See Second Barbary War.Later history
In 1835, the Turks took advantage of a local civil war to reassert their direct authority. After that date, Tripoli was under the direct control of the
Sublime Porte. Rebellions in 1842 and 1844 were unsuccessful. After the occupation of Tunisia by the French (1881), the Turks increased their garrison in Tripoli considerably.Italy had long claimed that Tripoli fell within its zone of influence and that Italy had the right to preserve order within the state. Under the pretext of protecting its own citizens living in Tripoli from the Turkish Government, it declared war against Turkey on
September 29, 1911, and announced its intention of annexing Tripoli. On October 1, 1911, a naval battle was fought at Prevesa, Greece, and three Turkish vessels were destroyed. By the Treaty of Lausanne, Italian sovereignty was acknowledged by Turkey, although the Caliph was permitted to exercise religious authority.Tripoli was controlled by Italy until 1943. After that, it was occupied by
British forces until independence in 1951.Law and Government
The city of Tripoli and its surrounding suburbs all lie within the Tripoli
sha'biyah (municipality). In accordance with Libya's Jamahiriya political system, Tripoli comprises Local People's Congresses where, in theory, the city's population discuss different matters and elect their own people's committee; At present there are 29 Local People's Congresses. In reality, the revolutionary committees severely limit the democratic process by closely supervising committee and congress elections at the branch and municipal levels of governments, Tripoli being no exception. The current head of the Tripoli People's Committee is Abdullatif Abdulrahman Aldaali (عبد اللطيف عبد الرحمن الدالي) & the undersecretary, Mohamed Abudebra (محمد أبودبرة).Tripoli is sometimes referred to as the
de-facto capital of Libya. This is because none of the country's ministries are actually located in the capital. Even the National General People's Congress is held annually in the city of Surt and not the capital. As part of a radical decentralisation programme undertaken in September 1988, all General People's Committee secretariats (ministries), except those responsible for foreign liaison (foreign affairs) and information, were located away from Tripoli. According to diplomatic sources, the former Secretariat for Economy and Trade was moved to Benghazi; the Secretariat for Health to Kufra; and the remainder, excepting one, to Surt, Col. Gaddafi's birthplace. In early 1993 it was announced that the Secretariat for Foreign Liaison and International Co-operation was to be moved to Ras Lanouf.For example, epic floods in 1945 left Tripoli under water for several days, but two years later an unprecedentedly severe
drought caused the loss of thousands of head of cattle. Deficiency in rainfall is no doubt reflected in an absence of permanent rivers or streams in Tripoli as well as an absence throughout the entire country. The allocation of limited water is considered of sufficient importance to warrant the existence of the Secretariat of Dams and Water Resources, and damaging a source of water can be penalized by a heavy fine or imprisonment.The
Great Manmade River, a network of pipelines that transport water from the desert to the coastal cities, supplies Tripoli with its water.[4] The grand scheme was initiated by Gaddafi in 1982 and has had a positive impact on the city's inhabitants.Tripoli is dotted with public spaces, but few fit under the category of large
city parks. The Green Square located near the waterfront is scattered with palm trees, the most abundant plant used for landscaping in the city. Tripoli zoo, located south of the city centre, is a large reserve of plants, trees and open green spaces and is the country's biggest zoo.| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high °F (°C) |
63 (17) |
66 (18) |
70 (21) |
78 (25) |
85 (29) |
92 (33) |
95 (35) |
95 (35) |
92 (33) |
84 (28) |
73 (22) |
65 (18) |
(26) |
| Average low temperature °F (°C) |
44 (6) |
45 (7) |
49 (9) |
54 (12) |
61 (16) |
67 (19) |
69 (20) |
71 (21) |
69 (20) |
63 (17) |
53 (11) |
47 (8) |
(14) |
| Rainfall in. (mm) |
2.7 (69) |
1.6 (41) |
1.0 (25) |
0.5 (13) |
0.2 (5) |
0.1 (3) |
--- (--) |
--- (--) |
0.4 (10) |
1.5 (38) |
2.4 (61) |
3.2 (81) |
(348) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Economy
Tripoli is Libya's economic hub. It is the leading center of banking, finance and communication in the country as well as the leading commercial and manufacturing center. Many of the country's largest corporations locate their headquarter's home offices in Tripoli as well as the majority of international companies.
Major manufactured goods include processed food, textiles, construction materials, clothing and tobacco products. Since the lifting of sanctions against Libya in 1999 and again in 2003, Tripoli has seen a rise in foreign investment as well as an increase in tourism. Increased traffic has also been recorded in the city's port as well as Libya's main international airport, Tripoli International.
The city is home to the Tripoli International Fair, an international industrial, agricultural and commercial event located on Omar Muktar Street. One of the active members of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), located in the French capital Paris, the international fair is organized annually and takes place from the 2nd to the 12th of April. Participation averages around 30 countries as well as more than 2000 companies and organizations.
Since the rise in tourism and influx of foreign businesspeople, there has been an increased demand for hotels in the city. To cater for these increased demands, the Corinthia Bab Africa hotel located in the central business district was constructed in 2003 and is the largest hotel in Libya. Other large hotels include the Bab El Bahr hotel and the Kabir Hotel as well as others.
Sites of Interest
A city opening up to tourism, Tripoli contains many sites of importance. The city's old town is one of the classical sites of the Mediterranean; the walled medina retains much of its old-world ambience. The Assaraya al-Hamra (the
Red Castle), a vast palace complex with numerous courtyards, dominates the city skyline and is located on the outskirts of the medina. There are some classical statues and fountains from the Ottoman period scattered around the castle. The Gurgi and Karamanli mosques, with their intricate decorations and tilework, are examples of the artistic skills of local craftsmen.The basic street plan of the medina was laid down in the Roman period when the walls were constructed as protection against attacks from the interior of
Tripolitania. In the 8th century a wall on the sea-facing side of the city was added.
Three gates provided access to the town: Bab Zanata in the west, Bab Hawara in the southeast and Bab Al-Bahr in the north wall. The old city walls are still standing and can be climbed for good views of the city. The
Harbour Monument stands at the gates of the old city where there are also a number of restored houses, consulates and a synagogue. The medina is also known for its traditional ware; fine jewellery and clothes can be found in the local markets.The Jamahiriya
Museum, a fine modern facility located in the Red Castle, is Libya's national museum. It houses many artefacts from the country's Roman and Greek periods, including treasures from the World Heritage sites at Leptis Magna and Sabratha, as well as such curiosities as the Volkswagen Beetle car driven by Gadaffi in the 1960s. The only surviving Roman monument in the city, the Arch of Marcus Aurelius, marks the northern end of the medina. Tripoli has some other good museums and archives, including the National Archives, the Government Library, the Ethnographic Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Epigraphy Museum and the Islamic Museum.Text by Wikipedia