LIBYA: Ancient city of Ghadames attracts growing number of tourists

Record ID: 826460

  • Title: LIBYA: Ancient city of Ghadames attracts growing number of tourists
  • Date: 4th November 2009
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) FEMALE TOURIST FROM SWEDEN, SAYING: "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.
  • Embargoed: 19th November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: History,Travel / Tourism
  • Reuters ID: LVA2IK2OLS401KEXH3VK47N4WBKL
  • Story Text: The ancient city of Ghadames near the Algerian and Tunisian borders in Libya is attracting thousands of tourists every year.
    The ancient city of Ghadames in Libya is seeing increased numbers of tourists visiting the historical location every year.
    Fondly referred to as the 'pearl in the desert', the oasis town lies approximately 549 km southwest of the Libyan capital of Tripoli, near the borders with Algeria and Tunisia. Ghadames' population is made up of roughly 7000 Tuareg Berbers, who are a normadic pastoralist people.
    It is one of the older pre-Saharan cities and a fine example of a traditional settlement. Its domestic architecture is characterised by a vertical division of function areas. The ground floor is used to store supplies; a separate floor for the family; overhanging covered alleys which are cool; and open-air terraces reserved for the women at the top level. Interestingly, unlike in most other Muslim societies, women do not traditionally wear the veil, whereas the men do.
    Each of the original seven Tuareg clans that used to live in this part of the town had its own district, and within each district a public place where festivals could be held. The old part of the city, which is surrounded by a wall, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    The first records mentioning Ghadames date from the Roman period, suggesting troops were occasionally present in the city. In later times, Ghadames was a bustling trading point, connecting North Africa with the South beyond the desert plains.
    "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.
    Recently, Libyan authorities have renovated and re-built parts of Ghadames, in order to preserve and maintain the area. Small hotels and restaurants have opened up to cater for visitors. Ghadames now has a three day tourist festival held annually in October to coincide with the date harvest. As Libya continues to open up to the world, more and more tourists are venturing to 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.
    Interesting sites to visit in Ghadames include the cultural Museum, the "Traditional House" richly decorated in local style, 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 for youngsters looking to cool off in the desert heat.
    One Swedish visitor commented, "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."
    The traditional clay houses of the old city maintain an excellent level of coolness beneath the scorching Saharan heat. The walls of the old city are made of thick mud mixed with straw, which allow ventilation through the ancient structures.
    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.
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