LIBYA: Ancient city of Ghadames near the Algerian and Tunisian borders in Libya is attracting thousands of tourists every year

Record ID: 785135

  • Title: LIBYA: Ancient city of Ghadames near the Algerian and Tunisian borders in Libya is attracting thousands of tourists every year
  • Date: 6th November 2009
  • Summary: GHADAMES, LIBYA (RECENT - OCTOBER 29, 2009) (REUTERS) FESTIVAL ATTENDEES SEATED GHADAMES FOLK GROUP PERFORMING MUSIC AND DANCES ON STAGE FOREIGN TOURISTS IN AUDIENCE TAKING PICTURES TUAREG MUSIC AND DANCES BEING PERFORMED DURING OPENING CEREMONY WOMAN WATCHING TUAREG DANCES TUAREG MUSIC AND DANCES BEING PERFORMED AUDIENCE WATCHING PERFORMANCE
  • Embargoed: 21st November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Lifestyle,Travel / Tourism
  • Reuters ID: LVADQT9FFI4VIQXTQGVQX6C0B34Z
  • Story Text: Fondly referred to as the 'pearl in the desert', the ancient Libyan city of Ghadames is seeing an increasing number of tourists.
    The oasis town lies approximately 549 km (342 miles) southwest of the Libyan capital of Tripoli, near the borders with Algeria and Tunisia. Ghadames' population is made up of roughly 7,000 Tuareg Berbers, who are a nomadic pastoralist people.
    Each of the original seven Tuareg clans who used to live here had its own district, and within each district there is a public place where festivals could be held. The old part of the city, which is surrounded by a wall, has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
    The city holds a three-day tourist festival each October to coincide with the date harvest.
    Foreign tourists and local residents gather for nights of performances that include traditional music and dancing.
    Libyan authorities recently renovated and rebuilt parts of Ghadames, with small hotels and restaurants to cater to tourists.
    As Libya continues to open its doors to the world, more tourists are venturing into the old city, looking for something off the beaten track.
    "I think Ghadames is a very very interesting city and more people would love to come here if they knew a little more about it. It's wonderful," said one American tourist.
    Tourist hotspots include the cultural Museum, the "Traditional House" richly decorated in local styles, the Great Mosque, and the Main Square once used as a slave market.
    The spring of Ain el Faras which was once the main water supply to the old city, is now a popular bathing area.
    "The environment gets very well adjusted to the living circumstances so you get the coolness from the walls and the covered walkways. It's very practical, it seems like they've really thought about things, how to get things working in a nice way," said a Swedish tourist.
    The traditional clay houses of the old city maintain an excellent level of coolness beneath the scorching Saharan heat.
    As a testament to the quality of the buildings, the inhabitants of the newer parts of the city return to their original quarters during the hottest days of the summer in search of shade and cool.
    "The importance of Ghadames lies in its position as a meeting point between Africa and the north. Goods were brought from Africa and others from the north and they were traded in Libya. Ghadames used to play an important role in completing trade operations between the north and south", said Dr Taher Jarrari, director at the National Centre for Archives and Manuscripts.
    The first records mentioning Ghadames date from the Roman period, suggesting troops were occasionally present in the city.
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