PLACE D'ALGÉRIE (MIDAN EL-JAZAÏR)

The place of Algeria dates from the fascist urban development policy of the 1930 s. Then named place of the Cathedral, it was the subject of two competitions in 1930 and 1931 without the juries coming to decide between the proponents of imperial Roman architecture, inspired by ancient Rome, and those of pure rationalist architecture, the refined lines and volumes. Finally, architect Di Fausto, who proposed an average path between these two visions, is being given the project. He is the author of the large postal building (east of the square), bordering the building of the municipality of Tripoli. It was the building of the new Italian municipality. With its imposing volume and its simple lines, it represents a good example of the fascist architecture of the 1930 s, as well as the big arches of the gallery to the north of the square, where a very pleasant coffee set. On the right of the square, the ancient Italian cathedral built in 1928 was transformed into mosque (mosque Abdel Nasser) on 29 November 1970. In its present, very successful aspect, all in white, pale ochre and clear green, with its high minaret (the ancient cloché of the cathedral), it is very difficult now to guess the old cathedral in the new structure.