Home › Cities › Tripoli

Old photos of Tripoli

15 photographs of Tripoli, from 1912 to 2012 — each pinned to the exact place it was taken.

Have an old photo of Tripoli? A family album, a postcard, a print from the attic. Pin it to the map and it becomes part of the record.
Add your photo

What the photos show

The 15 photographs of Tripoli on PlaceWas span 5 decades, from 1912 to 2012. 8 of them were taken before 1980; the other 7 are recent views of the same streets and landmarks.3 spots were photographed more than once, so you can compare the same street, square or building across the years.15 of the photos carry a written caption explaining what is in the frame. Every picture is pinned to the place it was taken, so the map below shows where the photographers stood.

Pick a decade to filter the photos below and the map above. Open full map ↗

Places in Tripoli through time

Spots photographed more than once — compare the same place across the years.

Tripoli Cathedral NE, Tripoli — photos through time
Tripoli Cathedral NE 3 photos · 1943–1960
Arch Marcus Aurelius, Tripoli — photos through time
Arch Marcus Aurelius 2 photos · 2006–2012
Tripoli Old Market Gate, Tripoli — photos through time
Tripoli Old Market Gate 2 photos · 2009

Stories from Tripoli

What contributors wrote about these photographs.

Aerial reconnaissance photograph of Tripoli Harbour, Libya, 12 March 1942 (80-G-350011), Tripoli, 1942
Aerial reconnaissance photograph of Tripoli Harbour, Libya, 12 March 1942 (80-G-350011) 1942 This US Navy aerial reconnaissance photograph, taken on 12 March 1942, shows Tripoli Harbour in Libya. At the time the port was held by Axis forces and served as a key supply point during the North African campaign of…
Tripoli Cathedral NE, Tripoli, 1943
Tripoli Cathedral NE 1943 Taken in 1943, this photograph shows the northeastern facade of the cathedral in Tripoli, Libya. The city had recently come under Allied control following the North African campaign of World War II, and its Italian-era…
Tripoli Cathedral NW, Tripoli, 1943
Tripoli Cathedral NW 1943 This 1943 photograph documents the northwestern side of Tripoli Cathedral in Libya. Built during the period of Italian colonial rule, the cathedral was among the city's most visible landmarks as Allied forces held…
USS Compton (DD-705) and USS Gainard (DD-706) moored in Tripoli Harbor in October, Tripoli, 1948
USS Compton (DD-705) and USS Gainard (DD-706) moored in Tripoli Harbor in October 1948 The destroyers USS Compton (DD-705) and USS Gainard (DD-706) lie moored together in Tripoli Harbor in this October 1948 photograph. At the time, Libya was administered under British military rule in the years following…
LA CATTEDRALE DI TRIPOLI, Tripoli, 1960
LA CATTEDRALE DI TRIPOLI 1960 The former Tripoli Cathedral stands in the Libyan capital in this 1960 photograph. Built as a Roman Catholic church during the period of Italian colonial administration, it was among the more prominent European-style…
Tripoli, Via Mercati Generali (Sciara El Rashid), Tripoli, 1969
Tripoli, Via Mercati Generali (Sciara El Rashid) 1969 Via Mercati Generali, also known locally as Sciara El Rashid, appears in this 1969 photograph of Tripoli, Libya. The thoroughfare took its Italian name from the nearby wholesale markets built during the colonial era.
Arch Marcus Aurelius, Tripoli, 2006
Arch Marcus Aurelius 2006 The Arch of Marcus Aurelius stands in the old city of Tripoli, Libya, photographed in 2006. Built around 163-164 AD, it is among the oldest surviving Roman structures in the city, marking the intersection of its ancient…
Gurgi Mosque Interior Tripoli Libya, Tripoli, 2012
Gurgi Mosque Interior Tripoli Libya 2012 Gurgi Mosque, seen here from inside in 2012, is an Ottoman-era mosque in Tripoli's old medina built in the 1830s. It is known for its ornate dome and minaret and remains a landmark of the historic walled city.
1910s · 2 photos
1940s · 4 photos
1960s · 2 photos
2000s · 3 photos
2010s · 4 photos