LIBYA: CYRENAICA
Highlights
Benghazi, the capital of Cyrenaica
In the Athens of Africa, the Temple of Zeus in Cyrene
Ptolemais, unique Byzantine frescoes and mosaics
Ancient columns directly on the sea at Apollonia
Where we sleep
Hotels
How we get around
Car/Minivan
TYPE OF TRIP
A short journey in a context unaccustomed to tourism, allowing for visits to the main historical sites of Cyrenaica and requiring no particular physical effort
For more information about our trips, please consult the FAQ section.
DAY 1: departure from the main Italian airports and flight with a layover to Benghazi. Stopover night in Istanbul/Cairo/Amman
Morning: arrival at Benghazi airport, completion of entry formalities, meeting with the local team, and transfer to the hotel. Start of the visit to the city center and its traditional markets
Afternoon: lunch and continuation of the discovery of Cyrenaica’s main city with a visit to Kish Square, one of the most important in the city. Transfer to the seafront for an excellent panoramic view, followed by exploration of old Benghazi, among ancient historic homes and bazaars, with a subsequent visit to the Osman Pasha Mosque, one of the oldest in the city
Evening: dinner and night in a hotel in Benghazi
Morning: transfer to Ptolemais and visit to the small museum that preserves mosaics and statues from the Hellenistic and Roman eras. The visit to the archaeological site—still only partially excavated despite its vast size—includes the Theater, the Hellenistic Gymnasium (which later became a Roman Forum), the complex of underground cisterns, the Odeon, and the Palace of Columns, one of the city’s most significant monuments
Afternoon: lunch and continuation of the day’s itinerary towards the village of Qasr Libya, home to a fascinating Byzantine basilica where stunning, perfectly preserved mosaics can be admired, including the only known representation of the majestic Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of antiquity. Next stop at Slonta, a troglodyte site with important rock carvings, and arrival at Cyrene, known as the “Athens of Africa,” the most important Greek city in Cyrenaica. Visit to the main points of interest, including the marvelous Temple of Zeus—the largest Greek temple in North Africa, exceeding the Parthenon in Athens in size—the Roman Theater, and the Greek-Libyan tombs. Hotel check-in in Cyrene
Evening: dinner and night in a hotel in Cyrene
Morning: continuation of the visit to Cyrene, with stops at the most suggestive panoramic viewpoints, and transfer to Apollonia, the ancient port of Cyrene
Afternoon: lunch and, against the spectacular backdrop of this stretch of the Mediterranean Sea, a visit to the archaeological site of Apollonia with its Roman Theater, Byzantine-era ruins, and its ancient port, which still features standing columns just steps from the sea
Evening: dinner and night in a hotel in Apollonia
Morning: breakfast at the hotel and a stop at Ras al Hilal, a coastal resort with spectacular landscapes, among the most scenic in all of Cyrenaica
Afternoon: lunch and start of the journey back to Benghazi. Late afternoon arrival in the main city of Cyrenaica and hotel check-in/return flight depending on the schedule
Evening: dinner, final evening and night in a hotel in Benghazi/flight to Istanbul/Amman/Cairo
DAY 6: Transfer to Benghazi Airport for the return to Italy. Depending on the flight schedule, arrival in Italy in the evening and see you on your next adventure with BHS Travel!
