Tocra
A Pentapolis city with substantial walls and a Byzantine fort, on the Cyrenaican coast.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
Tocra, ancient Taucheira, was founded as a Greek colony in the seventh century BC and remained occupied through the Roman and Byzantine periods, and its most visible survival is the circuit of city walls with towers and gates, rebuilt in the Byzantine period, along with a fort inside them. A sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone outside the walls produced thousands of votive figurines when it was excavated. The modern town has grown up against the site.
What you actually see
- The city walls - the circuit with towers and gates, rebuilt in the Byzantine period.
- The Byzantine fort - the fortification standing within the walls.
- The Demeter sanctuary - the site outside the walls that produced thousands of votives.
- The coastal position - the city on the shore between Benghazi and the Pentapolis.
When to go
March to May and October to November are the comfortable months. Summer is hot. Winter brings rain to the coast.
Honest expectations
The modern town presses against the site and encroachment is a serious problem. Little is interpreted. Travel in Libya requires arrangements through a licensed operator.
Nearby
Ptolemais is east, and Benghazi is west.
What to pack for Tocra
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
