Benghazi is Libyas second city and the main city of eastern Libya. The city is a mix of busy commercial center with a Mediterranean charm. Much of the old town was destroyed during WWII, and some of its antiquity is buried beneath the modern city. On 15 February 2011 an uprising against the government of Muammar Gaddafi occurred in the city. Also during this war the city sufferd. Yet the future can be hopefully.
Benghazi is a good base to explore Cyrenaica with there main sights such as: Cyrene, Tokra, Apollonia, Tolmeita, and Jebel Al Akhdar. Benghazi is named after Ibn Ghazi, al local holly man renowned in the 15th century. During the history of Benghazi, a lot of settlements have lived and controlled the area. The original settlement of the modern Benghazi was founded by Greek settlers from Cyrene. It was first mentioned in historical records in the 6th century BC. The settlement of Berenice around 249 BC, named after a Cyrenaica princess, and wife of Ptolemy II of Egypt. It fell under sway of the Romans in the 1 century BC. During the Byzantines the city fell into decline. Following the Arab invasion, and it came into a prosperous face when Tripoli merchants took control. Than the Turks, followed by the Italians. During WWII more than 1000 bombs fell on the city. By the time the war ended there was little left. After the war local people from Western Libya came, and started to develop it again.
Old lighthouse which was build during the Italian occupation.
Old Berenice
Located just next to the old lighthouse are the low-lying remains of the old Greek, and Roman settlement of Berenice.
Byzantine church with a mosaic
Freedom Square
Benghazis old town hall build by the Italians. The large balcony once played host to its share of important orators such as: Mussolini, German field marshal Rommel, and King Idris.
Atig Mosque
The original mosque was build in the early 15th century.
Souq Al Jreed
The market of Benghazi, stretches over 1Km from Freedom square to Al Fundug market.
Commonwealth war graves cemetery
Small cemetery for Allied soldiers killed in WW II. It contains graves of Australian, British, Greek, Indian, Jewish, Libya,
South Africa, Norwegian, and Sudanese soldiers.
Old Egyptian Consulate