The National Museum of Libya will finally reopen to the public, 14 years after it closed during the Arab Spring.
The As-Saraya Al-Hamra, commonly known as the Red Castle, has long been the symbol of the ancient history of Libya. Located in Tripoli, the structure traces its origin to the Roman era. It has stood witness to the progress of Libyan history, through the Islamic rule and into the modern age. In the 1980s, it was converted into a museum.
However, in the early 2010s, a series of popular protests and uprisings swept across the Southwest Asia and Northern Africa region, commonly called the Arab Spring. Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi deployed armed forces to quell the Arab Spring until he himself was overthrown in 2011. However, during the unrest, the Red Castle – the largest museum in Libya – was shuttered.
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However, after Abdulhamid al-Dbiebah became the prime minister in 2021, steps began to be taken to restore the cultural heritage of Libya. Renovations began on the 10,000 square feet space in 2023 and are now completed. The authorities are yet to announce the formal opening date, but it will be in early 2026. Once open, the public will be able to view the Red Castle’s vast collection of artifacts ranging from Greek, Roman, to Islamic periods. The museum also houses Egyptian mummies excavated on Libyan sites.
