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places of interest .. Cyrenaica
Cyrene or Shahat is an ancient city located in Al-Jabel Al-Akhdarv (Green
Mountain), a region of about 200Km east of Benghazi.
Cyrene was founded in c.630 BCE as a colony of the Greek island town Thera,
which had become too crowded. The first colonists settled at an island called
Platea in front of the Libyan coast. Later, they occupied a coastal strip called
Aziris, and finally, after concluding a treaty with the native Libyans, they
founded the town Cyrene.
Apollonia was the port of Ceryne.It is located on the Mediterranean sea of about
20 Kms north of Cyrene. It is also known as Sousa and marked by ruins that go
back to the Roman era. It established in the 7th century BC.
Apollonia has many significant monuments. The Greek theatre, the Roman baths,
the Basilica Walls and the Byzantine Palace are among its highlights
Teuchira is Probably founded in the 7th century BC (its origins are cloudy),
Teuchira was a port city of the Greeks. During the Ptolemaic period, its
importance was reflected in its status as one of the five cities of the
Pentapolis, together with Cyrene, Apollonia, Ptolemais and Berenice (modern
Benghazi). As with other cities of the region, it succumbed to the Arab invasion
of 643 AD and was the final site of defense of the governor of Cyrenaica.
There is little to see at Teuchira compared to Ptolemais, Cyrene and Apollonia,
but it is located on a pleasant coastal site. There is an interesting fortress
which affords a good view of a nearby shipwreck. Entrance to the site is through
the entrance of an old Turkish fort.
Qasr Libya is the Site of a Byzantine fort and church dating back to the reign
of the Emperor Justinian (6th century AD). A floor of stunning mosaic panels was
discovered in 1957, the majority of which are now housed in the on-site museum.
The collection of mosaics is considered one of the world’s finest and,
intriguingly, depicts pagan subjects as well as human and animal figures. One
panel depicts the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Tobruk or (Plynus) is located 165 Kms east of Derna and 470 Kms east of
Benghazi. It was founded by the Greeks to serve as a harbor. Tobruk was a
battlefield for wars between the Allied and axis partners during the Second
World War. The allied cemeteries including the French, Knightsbridge and the
German cemeteries are still present in Tobruk.
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