Benghazi (/bɛnˈɡɑːzi/; Arabic: بنغازي Binġāzī, Libyan Arabic: [bənˈʁɑːzi] , Italian: Bengasi; Turkish: Bingazi; also: Bengasi, Benghasi, Banghāzī, Binghāzī, Bengazi, Βερενίκη Berenice and Hesperides) is the second largest city in Libya, the main city (or capital) of the Cyrenaica region (or ex-Province), and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area (which includes the southern towns of Gimeenis and Suluq) is also a district of Libya. The port city is located on the Mediterranean Sea.