Tripoli    Fragrance of the orient

Capital of the North and second largest city in Lebanon, Tripoli is always on the move. Yet it preserves its past more beautifully than any other of the country's ancient towns. A wonderful oriental perfume comes from its famous souks, where you can lose yourself among the maze of tiny streets. Investigate the tailor shops, soapmakers, potters and other traditional crafts and enjoy the smell of freshly ground coffee mixed in with the fragrance of spices. A visit to Tripoli's souks is indeed a sensual experience.

The oriental atmosphere of old Tripoli is also seen in its mosques, especially at the hour of prayer when the call of the muezzins echo over the town.
These mosques date mostly to the time of Mamlouks, who occupied the country in the 13th century. Like the other medieval buildings in the city they are architectural masterpieces and well worth a visit. Be sure to see the Grand Mosque with its huge courtyard surrounded by arcades, the Taynal mosque whose majestic portal is decorated in striped marble, and the Burtasya mosque, which has a finely carved minaret.

Also see the celebrated hammams or baths, some of which date from the 13th century. Their domes with pierced glass-covered openings, bring light into the interior. At the Hammam el-Abed, the only bath still functioning, it's still possible to enjoy an authentic Turkish bath. The old city also has a number of Mamlouk and Ottoman period Khans (caravansaries) and madrasahs (Quranic schools).