Tripoli (Lebanese Arabic: طرابلس Ṭrāblos or Ṭrēblos, locally Ṭrōbles, Standard Arabic: Ṭarābulus; Greek: Τρίπολις Tripolis) is the second-largest city in Lebanon, located north of Batroun and Cape Lithoprosopon. Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and a qada of the same name. The city is located 85 km north of the capital Beirut and can be described as the Eastern-most port of Lebanon.
In ancient times, it was the center of a Phoenician confederation which included Tyre, Sidon and Arados, hence the name Tripoli, from the Greek meaning "triple city". Later, it was controlled successively by the Assyrian Empire, Persian Empire, Roman Empire, the Caliphate, the Seljuk Empire, Crusader States, the Mamluks, and the Ottoman Empire. The Crusaders established the County of Tripoli there in the twelfth century.
Today it is the second-largest city and second-largest port in Lebanon, with approximately 500,000 inhabitants, mainly Sunnis, along with smaller communities of Alawites and Christians. The city borders the city of El Mina which is the port outlet of Tripoli district. The two cities are geographically conjoined to form the Greater Tripoli.
Tripoli: Touristic attraction of the Week -
23rd July 2007
