Main content

Simon Reeve embarks on the third leg of his four-part journey around the Mediterranean, travelling through Libya, Tunisia and across the sea to Sicily.

Simon Reeve embarks on the third leg of his epic four-part journey around the Mediterranean. He begins in Libya - a country well off the tourist trail and torn apart by revolution, insurgents from the so-called Islamic State and western air strikes. Simon visits the Mediterranean city of Sirte, which has been the scene of heavy fighting. Here, Simon witnesses some of the worst destruction he has ever seen, with entire neighbourhoods of the city completely flattened. He also visits the remains of Leptis Magna - one of the world's best-preserved Roman cities which many feared could fall into the hands of IS - and meets the young volunteers who risked their lives to protect it.

Travelling west along north Africa's Mediterranean coast, Simon arrives in Tunisia, a country that - unlike its neighbour - has long been a tourist destination. He visits the spectacular fortress village of Chenini, where houses were carved into the mountain by the Amazigh - better known as the Berbers. Today, Berbers are a small minority in Tunisia, but Simon finds one man who is keeping the traditions alive by harnessing camel power to make olive oil and excavating rock by hand to build new Berber homes.

From Tunisia, Simon boards the overnight ferry to the island famous as home to the mafia, Sicily. In recent years, a government crackdown and public rebellion have substantially weakened the mafia's grip on the island, but in the countryside, there are worrying signs of a comeback. The mafia is trying to take advantage of rural Sicily's population decline, but Simon soon discovers that migrants and refugees who have travelled across the Mediterranean to Europe are finding new homes in Italy's emptying villages. Simon meets three inspiring sisters who - despite constant intimidation, including the skinning of their much-loved dog - are making a defiant stand against the mafia.

Available now

58 minutes

SignedAudio described

Music Played

  • Abdel Ali Slimani

    Habibti

  • Speed Caravan

    Tag On The Beat

  • Maraou Oran

    For Twelve Moons

  • Speed Caravan

    Aissa Wah

Credits

RoleContributor
PresenterSimon Reeve
DirectorEric McFarland
Series ProducerChristopher Mitchell
Executive ProducerSam Bagnall

Broadcasts

  • Sun 21 Oct 201820:00
  • Sat 27 Oct 201819:00
  • Wed 31 Oct 201800:05
  • Wed 31 Oct 201801:05
  • Sun 28 Jul 201918:00
  • Sun 10 May 202019:15
  • Tue 12 May 202002:10
  • Thu 10 Aug 202319:00