A Journey In Tripoli

Tell Square, May 2001.

When you travel from Beirut to Tripoli, you will first pass by its southern districts and quickly arrive to the Tell (Jamal AbdulNasser) square, that is the central square in the city. The Tell Square separates the old and modern districts from each other. From there, different avenues and streets branch in all directions. The most important monuments at the Tell square are the Ottoman Tell Clocktower, the Menshiyyeh park, and several old buildings of Ottoman and traditional Lebanese styles.

Primary Streets in Modern Tripoli

• Fou'ad Shehab Street: Constitutes the southern entrance to Tripoli from Beirut. It includes many banks and official directorates.
• elMina (or Riad alSulh) Street: Joins Tripoli and elMina. It includes many restaurants, cafes, and large shopping centers.
• Azmi Beik Street: It is was constructed in 1910 during the Ottoman rule. Many of the buildings in Azmi street are characterized by their Ottoman motifs, mostly inspired from the European schools of architecture. It includes many elegant shopping malls for clothing and garments. It also includes many hospitals, medical centers, and social foundations.
• elMitayn Street: Northern to Azmi Street, it was constructed in 1912 and includes many cafes, restaurants, as well as the municipal stadium.

The last three streets lead to the coastal city of elMina.

Aerial view of the Municipal Stadium and the neighbouring amusement park.

It is a coastal city that includes a very large seaside thoroughfare (Jaddet Rafeek elHariri, alias, alCornish) considered as a promenading area. From there, many boats head to the nearby islands (Araneb, Nakheel, etc..). At the Cornish, you may please your eyes with the view of Tripoli, the mountains behind, and the extending coast. On the Cornish are many cafes, motels, and restaurants mainly offering seafood. From there you can visit the old quarters of elMina, that may be considered as a small scale representation of old Tripoli city. The plan of the old quarters of elMina is typical for coastal cities and includes the Barsbay tower, Tamathili caravansary, and several churches and old mosques. In elMina, there exists the Tripoli harbor and railway station. Sahri' Port Sa'id is the main thoroughfare in elMina and divides it into two parts: old and modern. It is surrounded on both sides with 8-story high buildings. This street represents the connection between el-Mina and Tripoli. It was constructed in 1879.

In el-Mina, you may watch the making of fishing boats and construction of ships. You may also visit the traditional pottery workshops, marble and furniture factories.

These are mainly residential and commercial areas.

• Abou Samra District: Situated on a hill southern to the Tripoli Citadel, this is mainly a residential area that includes several markets, schools, and higher education institutions.
• Qobbeh District: Located on a hill overlooking the Abou Ali river, this is a residential area that includes the campuses of the Lebanese University.
• Tebbaneh District: It is a northern district that links Tripoli to the town of elBaddawi and then to the international highway extending to Syria. This is mainly a residential and commercial area and is a center for vegetables and fruits wholesales.
• Zahriyeh District: Is northern to old Tripoli. It is a residential area characterized by Ottoman and traditional Lebanese buildings. In the Zahrieyh district are many churches, traditional soap-making factories (e.g., Adra Savonery), furniture factories and ateliers.
• Baddawi Town: Northern to Tripoli, it includes an old fort, a historical mosque, and a large pool. The latter was famous in history because of its mythical fishes and is still visited by many for picnic. At this town, you can also visit the traditional blown glass worshops, a tradition that is practiced in Lebanon since the time of the Phoenicians.

Baddaoui Tower.