El-Mina

At present, Tripoli is really made up of two towns - the city proper with its ancient and modern quarters, and the harbour - "Al-Mina"- three kilometers away, where there was apparently at one time a Phoenician town of which nothing now remains. El-Mina is also known as the "City of Waves and Horizons".

The Mina occupies at present a total surface area of 3.5 Km2. It used to be known as the "Iskele" until a law (21/12/1979; municipality decision 178,19/1977) defined the name as al-Mina. On 6.6.1996 the law no. 507 defined al-Mina as a 'city' and not a 'town'. The Mina celebrates it's anniversary on the 9th of September of every year.

The Mina used to be surrounded by a great wall. Only some traces are remaining in western el-Mina in Mabro land. The wall used to be a great and strong construction with a great ditch in the eastern part of the city from any sea attack. The ditch used to have a great iron gate.

In el-Mina there are 5 main parks:

1. Mashti (The winter): It is close to the seaside where the old port of the city used to be. A great anchor is placed at its center.
2. Shouhada (Martyrs): It was constructed in 1964. It has a water pool at the center.
3. Hatef (The telephone tower): It was desgined and constructed in 1979. It has lots of palm trees, white seats, and childrens playgrounds.
4. Baher (Fabulous): It contains more than 500 tree types.
5. Bourj (the tower) or el-Bi'a (the environment): It contains some monumental remains, palm trees, and flowering shrubs.

1. Shari' Port Said: Is surrounded on both sides with 8-storey high buildings. This street represents the continuation between el-Mina and Tripoli. It was constructed in 1879.
2. Shari' Mar Eliyas, alias Shari' Port Said: Christian and Muslim names of the new boulevard separating the new and old parts of the Mina.
3. Jaddet Rafiq el-Hariri (The Corniche): It is a 34-meters wide street on the seaside that runs to the Bohsas district. Both ways of the street are separated by palm trees. The seaside part is a gathering point for people willing to promenade. Constructed in 1985.
4. The Mina-Beirut Highway: Constructed in 1992.

1. Shari' al-Gumruk: customs, waterfront
2. Suq al-Kharab: Christian commercial
3. Suq al-Muslimiyyah: Muslim commercial
4. Shari' al-Marfa'a (the harbour): It runs towards the Tebbaneh Square and the road leading to el-Quobbeh and the Mallouleh Autoroute.

1. Hayy Mar Ilyas: Christian residential
2. Sahit Tirb: Christian residential-commercial
3. Zawqaq al-Na'ura: Muslim residential-commercial
4. Shari' Nuss Birtawshi: Muslim residential
5. Buwwabi: Muslim residential

1. St Georgios: It was constructed on top of an old Christian cemetery. The cemetery was moved out of the town. This square is surrounded by shoping bazars, the St Georgios church, and a small park is in its center.
2. Masjed: It was constructed on top of an old Muslim cemetery. It is surrounded by a popular vegetables and fruits bazaar. At its center are some palm trees.

1. Watch the tripoli-city.org/LBC Sat documentary about elMina (Scroll to episode 6).
2. Islands: Bakar, Bellan, Fanar, Palm, Sanani, Ramkeen, etc..
3. Tripoli's Palm Islands Natural Preserve
4. Sailing Directions for Mariners
5. Photos of El-Mina (20th Century) (Photo Album)

If you want to suggest a new section to this page and that is not available in the database, please send your suggestions/comments to: Dr. Ghazi Omar Tadmouri.

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