• A picture shows a view of an external yard of a "damous", a dwelling carved into Libya's arid Nafusa mountains, in Gharyan town, about 100 Km southwest of the capital, on February 5, 2022. - Gharyan's unique underground houses were hewn into the mountainside centuries ago, and many lie abandoned, but residents of the Libyan town are hoping tourism can help restore their heritage. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP)
    A picture shows a view of an external yard of a "damous", a dwelling carved into Libya's arid Nafusa mountains, in Gharyan town, about 100 Km southwest of the capital, on February 5, 2022. - Gharyan's unique underground houses were hewn into the mountainside centuries ago, and many lie abandoned, but residents of the Libyan town are hoping tourism can help restore their heritage. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP)
  • The interior of a damous. The dwellings are carved into the mountains
    The interior of a damous. The dwellings are carved into the mountains
  • Gharyan is a town about 90 kilometres south-west of Tripoli
    Gharyan is a town about 90 kilometres south-west of Tripoli
  • A damous yard
    A damous yard
  • Gharyan’s underground houses were hewn into the rock centuries ago
    Gharyan’s underground houses were hewn into the rock centuries ago
  • Many lie abandoned, but residents of the town hope its heritage can be restored through tourism
    Many lie abandoned, but residents of the town hope its heritage can be restored through tourism
  • A damous interior
    A damous interior
  • A damous resident stands in a bedroom
    A damous resident stands in a bedroom
  • A damous yard
    A damous yard
  • Gharyan is in Libya’s arid, mountainous Nafusa region
    Gharyan is in Libya’s arid, mountainous Nafusa region

MENA

Libyan ‘damous’ dwellings hope to lure tourists - in pictures

Gharyan’s unique underground houses were left abandoned over the years

The National

April 17, 2022

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Updated: April 17, 2022, 1:46 PM
LibyaPhotography