The Tripoli Citadel is located on top of a rocky hill. It is made up of four floors and is 130 meters long and 70 meters wide. At the center of the citadel many structures can be observed. These include an old hammam (public bath), three prayer houses, a jail, a stable for horses, halls for the commanders and important officials, large halls (for the soldiers, ammunition, and artillery), wells, water reservoirs, basins, graveyards, large open spaces for military exercises and parades, and more than 100 rooms of different dimensions.

The citadel also includes 10 gates down in its walls, some of which open towards the "Abou Ali" river while the others lead to the bazaars in the old city. The towers of the citadel are 15-20 meters high and include several cannon windows. The wall of the citadel is 2 meters wide and overlooks Tripoli, the "Mina" (harbor), the islands, and the route to Beirut as well as that to Homs (in Syria). The eastern wall faces a charming natural amphitheater of grand dimensions composed of the Cedars Mountains and the "Kadisha" canyon.

The Tripoli Citadel also overlooks the "Takiyyat alDaraweesh alMawlawiyah", located some 200 meters western to the citadel. It is an Ottoman construction that was commissioned by "Samsamji Ali" in 1619 CE.

For more info please visit: A Journey In Old Tripoli

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