From Berber Granaries to Roman Ruins: On the Way to Sabratha
From Berber culture to Roman grandeur
On the way from Ghadames to Sabratha, we stopped at two historical sites: Qasr al-Haj and Qasr Nalut.
Both were built by the Berbers for the same purpose, yet they look completely different.
Qasr al-Haj is almost perfectly circular – open, structured, and surprisingly harmonious.
Qasr Nalut, on the other hand, feels more like a mountain fortress – less planned, more organic, as if it has grown over time.
Today, both function as museums – but without glass cases, barriers, or crowds of tourists.
They were essentially a kind of collective storage system. Each family had its own room, used to store olive oil, barley, and wheat. Simple in function, but fascinating in execution.
Sabratha
After Leptis Magna, it feels smaller in scale and impact – but still well worth visiting. Columns stand proudly facing the sea, and mosaics that were once hidden have been brought back to light.
And then there is the Roman theatre.
It was heavily restored about a hundred years ago, but it remains impressive. Not because it is untouched, but because it still conveys its original scale and intention.
This marks the end of my time in Libya.
What a week it has been.
A country that deserves its place among the great historical regions of the Mediterranean.
I hope it will open more in the future – not just for tourism, but for recognition.
The people who welcomed us, and the history that surrounds them, deserve that.
