Islamic Museum of Tripoli
المتحف الإسلامي | |
| Established | To be determined, currently undergoing construction |
|---|---|
| Location | Tripoli, Libya |
| Coordinates | 32°52′39″N 13°10′58″E / 32.87744°N 13.18283°E |
| Type | Islamic-culture museum |
| Website | islammit |
The Islamic Museum of Tripoli (Arabic: المتحف الإسلامي) is a proposed museum of Islamic culture that was built under the support and patronage of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in Tripoli, Libya.[1]
History
The original building was built in the 1800s under the Turkish governor Ali Pasha Al Garamalli[2], whose tenure lasted from 1832 until 1835. It originally served as a country home for Turkish nobles. After the governor's death, the building was abandoned until the end of the century.[3]
During the Italian occupation of Libya, the building was owned by Giuseppe Volpi and subsequently his daughter, Anna Maria Cicogna Mozzoni Volpi.[3]
The property eventually fell under the ownership of the Libyan Department of Antiquities, with the intentions of making it the first Islamic Museum of Libya.
Location
The museum's building-reuse project stands in the al Sur area, in Shari' Sidi Khaliffa, Tripoli.
2011 Libyan civil war
In May 2011 it was reported that construction on – and acquisitions for – had been halted; the museum was scheduled to open in September 2011 to celebrate the anniversary of Muammar Gaddafi's rise to power. It was due to be housed in a summer palace built for the Ottoman Yusuf Pasha in the 18th century.[4]
The results of the Battle of Tripoli in August 2011, with the later arrest of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, altered the museum's opening date and festivities.[4] Hafed Walda, Cultural Counsellor of the regime, confirmed that the project was on hold and that the future of the collection was not ensured.[5] Meanwhile, no attempts of looting the collection were reported, though the seeming patron-less future of the collection was uncertain.[4]
Restoration
As of 2025, the building is being restored by Studio Italia Costruzioni.[3]
See also
References
- ^ Staff (undated). "Libya – Libraries and Museums". Encyclopedias of the Nations. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ "Islamic museum | IDxEA". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ^ a b c "islamic museum". studioitaliacostruzioni. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
- ^ a b c Pryor, Riah (May 2011). "Saif Gaddafi's Islamic Art Museum at a Standstill – Libyan Conflict Has Halted Construction On – and Ccquistions for – New Museum in Tripoli Due To Open in September". The Art Newspaper. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ Staff (28 April 2011). "New Museum of Islamic Art in Tripoli Unfinished" Archived 2012-03-22 at the Wayback Machine. Art Media Agency. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
External links
- islamit.45.com Archived 2019-06-24 at the Wayback Machine (in Arabic), museum's official website
- YouTube video - Restoration of the Islamic Museum in Tripoli by Studio Italia Costruzioni