Called "the pearl of the desert" it is one of the places placed under the protection of UNESCO. Located on the triple border between Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, it is the gateway to the great desert south. Oasis unique for its architecture, it is a magical place where it is worth walking through the dark tunnels of the old city. In fact, its streets were built so that the city has a constant temperature all year round, allowing citizens to defend themselves in particular from the infernal temperatures of the summer months. The streets themselves have a zigzag pattern to stop the sand and every now and then they are illuminated by small turrets which, in addition to letting the sunlight penetrate, act as chimneys to let the hot air rise.

The houses are also very particular: built following the same plan, they have three floors, the first of which is used as a cellar, the second houses the main room and the third the kitchens and the famous terraces that form the city of women; all communicating with each other allowed the fairer sex to go from house to house without ever going down the dark alleys reserved for men.

Inside, the homes give the idea of real dolls' houses: the walls are white and it is the future bride's job to decorate the walls to her taste with geometric symbols typical of Berber art.

Covered squares break up the layout of the alleys, on whose walls there are seats that hosted the assemblies of the elderly as well as children's games.

Known by the name of Cydamus in Roman times, it was part of the Limes Tripolitanus, but the legend and a graffiti in the immense cemetery outside the city walls tell its much older history.

The gardens which are still being worked on, despite the fact that the old city was abandoned in favor of the new one built by the adjacent Libyan government, are still an island of shade and tranquility on the edge of the desert. The charm is certainly irresistible, even more so if you dine in one of these houses, having the opportunity to experience for a few moments this incredible atmosphere that surrounds the oasis.