"Leptis Magna - the showcase of lavish... " a Leptis Magna Travel Page by grets

Leptis Magna is one of the most complete and best preserved Roman towns anywhere in the world, having been mostly constructed of the more sturdy limestone it was more resistant to earthquakes than its neighbouring towns. The city began its life as a Phoenician port for the trade route, administered from Carthage in current day Tunisia. Leptis was annexed to Rome in 111 BC and thrived as a Roman colony under the leadership of the emperor Trajan from 98 – 117 AD. The city positively flourished during the time of Septimus Severus (193 – 211 AD, and became a showcase for city planning and a testament to extravagance with its grand buildings and lavish decorations. This would have been a tremendous place to live in those days.

At the height of its popularity, Leptis Magna was home to some 80,000 people, and boasted six triumphal arches and three forums. Only 30% of the city has to date been excavated.

It is compulsory to have a guide when you visit Leptis Magna. Asdmission price is 3LD whereas a guide will set you back 50LD. As with all the Libyan antiquity sites, a photo permit is necessary with costs 5LD for a still camera and 10LD for a video.