Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna

Leptis Magna is the extensive ruins of a Roman city on the Mediterranean coast of Libya, widely regarded as one of the best-preserved Roman archaeological sites in North Africa. The site includes monumental public buildings, a theatre, forum, basilicas and remains of a harbour.

Visitors explore large paved avenues, a well-preserved forum and basilica, a Roman theatre and the remains of the harbour and city walls. The scale and preservation of masonry and mosaics make it a primary destination for those interested in Roman urbanism and architecture in Africa.

Originally a Phoenician and then Punic trading settlement, Leptis Magna became a prominent Roman city and benefitted from major building programs during the reign of Septimius Severus in the late second and early third centuries CE. The city’s fortunes rose and fell with changes in trade and imperial priorities.

The site lies on the Mediterranean coast near the modern town of Al Khums in Murqub District, western Libya, and is accessible from the coastal road that links it to other coastal cities.

• Severan patronage: The city saw major expansion under the Roman emperor Septimius Severus, who was born locally and invested heavily in public buildings.

What to See #

• Severan complex and forum: A well-preserved monumental complex from the Roman period featuring columns, basilicas and civic buildings that illustrate major imperial investment in the city.
• Theatre and amphitheatre: A large Roman theatre with tiers and sweeping views, plus an adjacent amphitheatre dating to the Roman imperial era.
• Harbour and port precinct: Remains of the ancient harbour and warehouses that attest to the city's role as a Mediterranean port in antiquity.