On Saturday, maintenance work began at the Al-Manar Royal Palace, located in the center of Benghazi, which is known for its important archaeological and historical buildings.
The Director of the Benghazi Al Amal (Hope) Foundation, Mohamed Fathi Jaouda published pictures of the ongoing refurbishment.
The Al-Manar Palace was founded by a royal decree in 1955, during the era of Italian colonialism to be the seat of Italian leaders, including fascist leader Italo Balbo. The Palace was initially known as the Governor’s Palace, and was also known as the Graziani Palace.
The palace witnessed the former King Idris I’s declaration of the country’s independence in 1951. It was later designated as the main headquarters of the Libyan University.
In the 1990’s, it became the headquarters of the Academy of Languages of the University of Garyounis.
On 30 August 2008, Libya signed a Treaty of Friendship, Partnership, and Cooperation with Italy in the palace. It was partially set on fire during the February 17 revolution.
Notably, Benghazi is the second-largest Libyan city, and is located on the Mediterranean Sea. The city was founded by the Greeks in 525 BC. The modern area lies just southwest of the Greek city, and was founded in 446 BC.
The area was rebuilt after World War II, and is surrounded by sea and desert. It enjoys a semi-arid climate, and a host of historical sights and attractions.
The Zoological Garden is one of the favoured tourist attractions in the area. This park doubles as a zoo and theme park, complete with wild cats, birds, elephants, and other wildlife with a small theme park for children to enjoy. The Atiq Mosque is the oldest mosque in the city, and offers breathtaking architecture.