The National Libyan Museum

The National Libyan Museum, historically known as the Red Castle Museum or As-saraya Al-hamra Museum, is the national museum of Libya. Located in Tripoli, it is situated within the historic Red Castle fortress on a promontory overlooking the old-town district of medina Ghadema. Designed in conjunction with UNESCO, the institution covers 5,000 years of Libyan heritage, spanning from prehistory to the independence revolution of 1953. Following an extended closure due to security concerns arising from the 2011 Libyan Civil War, the institution officially reopened to the public on December 12, 2025, under its current name.

The museum was established in 1919 when Italian colonial authorities converted a section of the castle into a museum to house archaeological artifacts scattered across the country. In 1930, archaeologist Giacomo Guidi reorganized the predominantly classical collections and expanded the exhibition space, leading to the institution being named the Classical Museum. During World War II, British forces occupied Libya, and the museum expanded to occupy the entire castle complex, being renamed The Libyan Museum in 1948. The institution closed for renovations in 1982 and reopened in 1988 as the Assaraya Alhamra Museum, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. During the 2011 war, rebels entered the building and damaged items belonging to Muammar Gaddafi, though staff safeguarded the most valuable objects at an alternate location and placed remaining Gaddafi-related items in storage. The museum subsequently remained closed for over a decade until its official reopening on December 12, 2025, initially limiting access to school groups.

The museum is organized across four levels, divided into five main wings and forty-seven galleries. Its exhibits encompass the prehistory of the Libyan region and the traditions of ancient Libyan tribes, including Maghreb Berbers, Garamentes, and Tuareg. Subsequent galleries document Libyan culture through the Phoenician, Punic, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods, alongside displays dedicated to Islamic architecture. The historical narrative continues through Italian colonization, World War II, Libyan independence, and 20th-century heritage, complemented by a section on the natural history of the region. During the Gaddafi era, a section was devoted to the Jamahiriya revolution, though these items were largely removed or stored following the 2011 conflict.

The museum holds significant archaeological and ethnographic artifacts. Highlights include an impressive ancient mausoleum from Ghirza, statues of Venus, Minerva, and Mars, and Punic engraved tablets. The collection also features Roman mosaics excavated from Zliten and Leptis Magna. In the entrance hall, which assembles symbolic landmark objects of Libyan history, the museum displayed the green Volkswagen in which Muammar Gaddafi entered Tripoli during his 1969 coup, representing a notable, if controversial, piece of modern heritage prior to the 2011 unrest.

The museum is housed in the Red Castle of Tripoli, a fortress dominating the historic heart of the city. The structure originated as part of a defensive system established by the Spanish during their brief occupation in the 16th century. The Knights of Malta subsequently improved the fort, followed by the Ottomans, who beginning in 1551 gave the complex its current name. The term Saraya derives from the Turkish word for palace, via Persian, while the adjective red refers to the ochre color of its walls. The building was long used as a munitions depot before its total reconfiguration during the Italian colonization. In the early 1920s, architect Armando Brasini renovated the structure, designing its characteristic arches. In the 1930s, architect Florestano Di Fausto designed the square surrounding the castle.

The National Libyan Museum is located in Tripoli, Libya, with its primary entrance situated on the historic As-Saha al-Kradrah, known as Martyrs Square. Following its reopening in December 2025, access has been initially restricted to groups from schools. The institution operates as a state museum and maintains an official web presence.