GHARYAN, April 17 — 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.
Dug deep into the arid Nafusa mountains at around 700 metres above sea level, the home would have been protected against the scorching summers that bring temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius .The region’s bedrock has a consistency that allowed the underground dwelling — known as a damous — to last for centuries without collapsing.
But the region’s Berber villages have continued to attract domestic tourists, and Belhaj is hoping that a return to relative stability could open the door to more visitors from Europe and elsewhere.While some come for a cup of tea and to explore the building, others stay for lunch or spend the entire day there.