Sheep graze at the ancient Greek and Roman ruined city of Cyrene in modern-day Shahaat, eastern Libya March 26, 2011. Founded in 4th century BC by Greeks and later Romanised, Cyrene was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world. Near Cyrene, one of the most important cities of the Hellenic world, are the lush hills and cool climes of Jebel al-Akhdar, but no facilities for tourists.
The site lacks the protective barriers, souvenir kiosks and restaurants usually found at such places. Instead, it is surrounded by the dilapidated, ugly village of Shahaat.
“It’s been the same here since the revolution in 1969. There’s been investment in oil, but none at all in tourism,” said Shahaat tourism policeman Hamdy Hamed.
The people of east Libya complain that there has been little investment in their part of the country since Muammar Gaddafi came to power in a military coup 41 years ago.
The region is now largely held by anti-Gaddafi rebels after mass protests and bloody fighting in the past month, much of it around the key oil exporting towns of Ras Lanuf and Brega.
“I hope to God we concentrate on tourism after the troubles. Oil runs out, but tourism will remain,” Hamed added.
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