Assaraya Alhamra Museum / Red Castle Museum
Visitor Information
Google Rating: 4.5
Popularity: Low
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Official Website: www.libyanmuseumtripoli.ly
Country: Libya
Civilization: Roman
Remains: Museum
History
The Red Castle of Tripoli, known locally as As-saraya Al-hamra, stands on a promontory overlooking the old town district called medina Ghadema.
In 1919, during Italian colonial rule, part of the castle was converted into a museum to display archaeological finds from across Libya. This marked the beginning of the site’s role as a cultural institution. Early in the 1920s, Italian architect Armando Brasini led renovations that introduced distinctive arches to the castle’s structure. The surrounding square, designed in the 1930s by Florestano Di Fausto, became known as As-Saha al-Kradrah or Martyrs’ Square, serving as the museum’s entrance area.
During World War II, British forces occupied Tripoli, and the museum expanded to fill the entire castle complex. The outbreak of the Libyan Civil War in 2011 forced the museum to close due to security concerns.
Remains
The museum is organized to present distinct collections that cover various historical periods and themes, including prehistoric artifacts, ancient Libyan tribes, and eras such as Phoenician, Punic, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Italian colonial, World War II, and the Libyan independence movement.
