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TRIPOLI
The capital of north Lebanon.
Tripoli is the product of a confederation of three Phoenician cities,
Tyre, Sidon and Aradus, thus the name Tripolis or the three
cities. It’s the second largest city in Lebanon after Beirut
and a very active one. The crusaders built a citadel there in
the 12th century that still stands on one of the hills overlooking
the ancient Mamelouk souks, the modern city and the sea. The
souks have kept their traditionnal feel, and one can still visit
many mosques, baths and caravansérails from the Mamelouk
and Ottoman periods. Some restoration of these monuments is
under course and some traditional crafts of Tripoli like soap
manufacturing are being succefully revived. Other crafts have
never lost their vitality like the sweets confection which are
a must to every visitor to Tripoli ! |
