Gharyan

Gharyan is located in Nafousa Mountain, about 100 km south of the capital Tripoli, and just before Yefren. Its famous troglodyte caves are a major attraction for tourists. The root "Ghar", in the name Gharyan, means "cave".   The caves were dug vertically down into the rocky ground, apparently to protect from the weather and also are well hidden and almost invisible from the outside.

A troglodyte cave with several rooms opening into an open courtyard.

One house is accessed by descending down a tunneled passageway leading to a large circular pit. Caves dug in the rocks act as rooms which surround the communal pit.

Traditional interior decorations.

The entrance to a troglodyte cave.