Souks (Shopping Bazaars) in Tripoli

Present

• ElMina

The harbour - ElMina - three kilometers away, hosted what was apparently at one time a Phoenician town of which nothing now remains. ElMina is also known as the "City of Waves and Horizons".

• Families

A repository of Tripolitan families and expatriates.

• Handicrafts

Tripoli has long been known for its sweets industry, olive oil-based soap production, and copper crafts.

• Index Tripolis

Index Tripolis is a project to provide bibliographic information about Tripoli, Lebanon.

• Kazdoura

A wander around inside Tripoli, Lebanon: A diary of humouristic series of walkabouts "kazdouras".

• Links

Useful links and telephone numbers in Tripoli, Lebanon.

• Maps

Terrain, street, satellite, touristic, urban growth, sailing, and historical maps and aerial imagery of Tripoli, Lebanon.

• News

Daily and weekly news from Tripoli, Lebanon.

• North Lebanon

A guide for towns and villages neighbouring Tripoli, Lebanon.

• Palm Islands

The Palm islands park is a unique and integrated natural marine basin in the eastern Mediterranean that was declared as a reserve in 1994.

• Panoramic Views

Interactive panoramic views of Tripoli, Lebanon.

• Tripoli e-Discussion Society

The 'Tripoli e-Discussion Society' is an independently self-controlled body that aims at gathering Tripolitans residing all over the world to discuss issues pertaining to Tripoli, Lebanon.

• Today's Tripoli

Present aspects of Tripoli, Lebanon

• Tripoli Radio

Tripoli Internet Radio features original on-demand programs about different aspects of Tripoli, Lebanon.

• Tripoli TV

Tripoli Internet TV brings you the latest video clips related to Tripoli and features original on-demand films about different aspects of Tripoli, Lebanon.

Past

• History

A quick reference about Tripoli in the Prehistorical, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Crusades, Mameluke, and Ottoman periods.

• Monuments

The wealth of historical monuments make Tripoli the second largest preserved Mameluke city in the world.

• The Tripoli Quiz

An educational game to test your knowledge on the present and history of Tripoli, Lebanon.

• Tourist Guide

A comprehensive tourist guide for sightseeing in the historical districts of Tripoli, Lebanon.

• Virtual Museum

A documented history of Tripoli from the 3rd to the 20th centuries with large collections of coins, garments, manuscripts, paintings, old photographs, and many other artifacts.

Languages

• Français

Bienvenue à Tripoli, Liban

• عربي

أهلاً بكم في طرابلس لبنان

• Ramadhan / رمضان

The Holy Month of Ramadhan in Tripoli / شهر رمضان المبارك في طرابلس

• عائلات

العائلات الطرابلسية

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Please send your comments, suggestions, or contributions to: Dr. Ghazi Omar Tadmouri.

Different views of the main Bazerkan Bazaar in Tripoli Lebanon (May 2001).

The Bazaerkan Bazaar (1950s).

Souk al-Haraj is considered as one of the oldest and most important commercial bazaars in Tripoli. The souk has a total surface area of 2,300 m2 and is composed of two floors. It's situated in the Hadeed district, midway between the Mallaha and Dabbaghah districts. This covered Mameluke (14th century) bazaar has a high vaulted ceiling supported by granite columns which may have originally been part of the Roman or Byzantine structures, that were renovated by the Crusaders, Mamelukes, and Ottomans (when it became the inalienable property, Waqf, of Monjik Pasha, who has many Waqfs in Tripoli, Damascus, and other cities). A total of 14 granite shafts can be seen along the north, south and east sides.

Souk al-Haraj is distinct from the other bazaars and khans for having four gates which open in the four directions around a vast yard approximately of a square form, in the center of which there are two columns of Granit imported from Pharaonic Egypt. It is surrounded by shops based on 12 columns of Granit. Above which there are rooms used as a hotel for the merchants who used to come with their goods to sell them at auction. Hence it took the name Souk al-Haraj.

Today this space is occupied by sellers of floor mats, pillows and mattresses. In summer 2003, a cafe was opened in Souk al-Haraj. The cafe offers a variety of snakes and the traditional Narjileh (Hubble-Bubble). It has a warm and historical atmosphere and is worth a visit.

Related Links

The Dabbaghah District (video).

Old Tripoli: Alleys of memories.

It is one of the oldest specialized souks of the city (Goldsmiths and Silversmiths). It engulfs also a lot of archeological sites. At its entrance there exists the Mansouri Great Mosque, the Khayyriyah Hosn School, the Nasiriyyah School, the Mash'had School, and the Shamsiyyah School. On the same road tere also exists the Hammam AlNouri, the Nouriyyah School, the Tuwaishiyyah School, the Hammam el-Abed, and Khan el-Saboun. The Sayyagheen Souk was renovated in 1996 by the municipality of Tripoli city.

The Sayyagheen (Goldsmiths) Bazaar after a renovation by the Municipality of Tripoli (Headed by Mr. Minkara at that time).

The gate of Khan el-Saboun at the Sayyagheen Bazaar.