Join Dan Snow on a special expedition that goes far off the beaten track of history as we venture to Libya in North Africa to explore extraordinary Greek and Roman sites, centred around one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, Cyrene.

After years of civil war and instability, History Hit has gained unique access as the first documentary team in 15 years to film in the rarely seen sites of ancient Cyrenaica, Libya, a vibrant and important part of the Greek and Roman world.

Our journey begins at Al Haniyah on the Mediterranean coast, where a fascinating archaeology project is rediscovering a long-lost coastal city, re-emerging from crumbling cliffs and beneath the waves. It is revealing the people who lived here two millennia ago - we can imagine merchant ships anchored offshore; crews calling out as heavy amphorae were loaded; traders bargaining in the shade of warehouses; families strolling along the harbourfront. For centuries, this place supported busy routines of work, travel, and exchange.

Dan then travels inland, up into the fertile mountains, site of magnificent Cyrene. It remains a jewel of the Graeco-Roman world - Dan explores the gymnasium, a centre of learning and physical fitness, and a splendid house complete with an outdoor Hall of the Muses, where rich guests would enjoy music and poetry beneath a warm North African sky. It was all funded by agriculture and trade across the Mediterranean. 3D graphics allow us to picture what it would have been like to walk these very streets and visit Cyrene’s magnificent theatre and temples over 2000 years ago.

This is a fascinating journey into a spectacular region where documentaries rarely go - we can promise you a film like no other.

You can find our more about the locations and the work being done to protect them at the following sites:

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/190/
https://www.asor.org/news/2025/08/shepard-grant-al-haniyah
https://cultural-protection-fund.britishcouncil.org/cpf-libya-unmistakably-heritage-motion%E2%80%99