 | WARNING: Many governments advise against all travel to Libya because of the ongoing civil war. See the warning on the Libya article for more information. |
Government travel advisories | |
| (Information last updated Sep 2020) |
Zuwara is a port city in northwestern Libya.
Understand
Zuwarah, or Zuwara (Arabic: زوارة; Berber: ⵜⴰⵎⵓⵔⵜ ⵏ ⵡⴰⵜ ⵡⵉⵍⵍⵓⵍ Tamurt n Wat Willul), had a population of around 350,000 in 2013. It is famous for its beaches and seafood. It is the capital of the Nuqat al Khams district. Its population speaks Zuwara Berber, a Zenati Berber language.
History
The settlement was first mentioned by the traveller al-Tidjani in the years 1306-1309 as Zwara al-saghirah ("Little Zwarah"). It served as the western outpost of Italian Libya (1912–43), being the terminus of the now-defunct Italian Libya Railway from Tripoli. Its artificial harbour shelters a motorized fishing fleet. Cereals, dates, and esparto grass (used to make cordage, shoes, and paper) are local products.
In September 2011, and following the fall of the Gaddafi government, Zuwara was the first town in Libya to democratically elect its local council.
Get in
It is 102 km (63 mi) west of Tripoli and 60 km (37 mi) from the Tunisian border.