Sabratha

Sabratha, on the Mediterranean coast west of Tripoli, was a flourishing Phoenician and then Roman port that grew rich trading the goods of Africa, and its ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site of great beauty. Its crowning glory is the magnificent Roman theatre, its towering three-storey stage wall of columns and reliefs superbly reconstructed, one of the most spectacular in the entire Roman world, set dramatically against the blue sea. Around it spread temples, forums, baths adorned with fine mosaics, and the remains of a once-wealthy city, gathered at the northern edge of the Sahara where the desert meets the Mediterranean.

What you actually see

• The Roman theatre - the spectacular three-tier columned stage.
• The temples - the ruins of the forum and sanctuaries.
• The mosaics - the fine floor mosaics of the baths.
• The seaside setting - the ruins against the blue Mediterranean.

When to go

October to April, the cooler months, are the most comfortable for exploring the coastal ruins, avoiding the hot summer; the great theatre and seaside setting are especially beautiful in the warm light of morning and late afternoon. Winter on this coast is mild and clear.

Honest expectations

Sabratha is smaller than nearby Leptis Magna and, like it, an open coastal site with little shade, so a visit centres on its superb theatre and seaside ruins. As a UNESCO World Heritage site with one of the most spectacular Roman theatres in the world set against the Mediterranean, though, Sabratha is a genuinely stunning and memorable place.

Nearby

The town of Sabratha and the coast west of Tripoli lie around the ruins.