Day Trip to Cyrene: Ancient Greek City on the Green Mountain
Cyrene is one of the great archaeological sites of the ancient world, a Greek colony founded in 631 BCE in the hills above the Mediterranean. Its remarkably preserved ruins include a Temple of Apollo, an agora, a necropolis and the Sanctuary of Demeter.
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Temple of Apollo
The oldest and most important sanctuary at Cyrene, the Temple of Apollo dates from the 7th century BCE and was a major center of Greek religious life in North Africa. Several columns stand to their full height.
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Cyrene Agora
The ancient marketplace and civic center of Cyrene, surrounded by the remains of porticoes, temples and public buildings that reveal the scale and ambition of this ancient Greek city.
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Tomb of Battos
The monumental tomb of Battos, the legendary founder of Cyrene, stands within the sacred precinct. The city he founded became one of the most important of all Greek colonies.
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Cyrene Necropolis
The vast cemetery outside the city walls contains thousands of rock-cut tombs carved into the white limestone cliffs, some with elaborate facades and Greek inscriptions still legible.
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Cyrene Museum
The on-site museum houses sculptures, coins and artifacts from the excavations, including the Venus of Cyrene, though the original is now in Rome and a reproduction stands in her place.
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Shahat Village
The modern village sitting above the ruins has cafes and small restaurants where travelers can rest after the archaeological site. The views from here down to the sea are magnificent.