Islamic Museum of Tripoli

The original building was built in the 1800s under the Turkish governor Ali Pasha Al Garamalli^[2], whose tenure lasted from 1832 until 1835. It originally served as a country home for Turkish nobles. After the governor's death, the building was abandoned until the end of the century.^[3]

During the Italian occupation of Libya, the building was owned by Giuseppe Volpi and subsequently his daughter, Anna Maria Cicogna Mozzoni Volpi.^[3]

The property eventually fell under the ownership of the Libyan Department of Antiquities, with the intentions of making it the first Islamic Museum of Libya.

The museum's building-reuse project stands in the al Sur area, in Shari' Sidi Khaliffa, Tripoli.

In May 2011 it was reported that construction on – and acquisitions for – had been halted; the museum was scheduled to open in September 2011 to celebrate the anniversary of Muammar Gaddafi's rise to power. It was due to be housed in a summer palace built for the Ottoman Yusuf Pasha in the 18th century.^[4]

The results of the Battle of Tripoli in August 2011, with the later arrest of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, altered the museum's opening date and festivities.^[4] Hafed Walda, Cultural Counsellor of the regime, confirmed that the project was on hold and that the future of the collection was not ensured.^[5] Meanwhile, no attempts of looting the collection were reported, though the seeming patron-less future of the collection was uncertain.^[4]

As of 2025, the building is being restored by Studio Italia Costruzioni.^[3]

• List of museums of Islamic art
• List of museums in Libya
• Red Castle Museum