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Sea Castle
Erected in 1228 by the Crusaders, this castle sits on a small island that was formerly the site of a temple dedicated to Melkart, the Phoenician version of Hercules, and is connected to the mainland by a fortified stone causeway. Largely destroyed by the Mamluks to prevent the Crus
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Qadisha Grotto
Extending around 500m into the mountain, this small grotto contains some impressive limestone formations. Though not as spectacular as Jeita Grotto, its evocative setting makes it worth a visit. The grotto is a 7km walk or drive from Bcharré off the road to The Cedars; follow the s
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Madrassas
Located near the Great Mosque are two madrassas (religious schools). Opposite the mosque’s northern entrance is the Madrassa al-Nouriyat , which has distinctive black-and-white stonework and a beautiful inlaid mihrab, and is still in use today. Attached to the east side of the Gran
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AUB Museum
The AUB Museum, was founded in 1868 and is one of the oldest in the Middle East. On permanent display is its collection of Lebanese and Middle Eastern artefacts including weapons, tools, flints, figurines, pottery and jewellery, along with a fine collection of Phoenician glass and
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Serail of Youssef Chehab
On the main street opposite the main square is this 18th-century palace, which now serves as the town hall (look for the two carved lions above the doorway, which represent justice). The entrance leads to an attractive courtyard off which there is an apartment with wooden panelling
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Murex Hill
Murex Hill is an artificial hill about 100m high and 50m long, partially covered by a cemetery. This is Sidons ancient garbage dump, largely formed from the crushed remains of hundreds of thousands of murex shells, the by-product of the citys famed dye. It took 10,000 murex mollusc
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Madrassas of Al
From the top of the citadel, walk down the set of steps directly in front of you. When you reach the street to the street, turn left then first right and walk along Rue Rachid Rida. Take the first right and soon youll see the 14th-century madrassas of Al-Machhad and Al-Shamsiyat ,
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Gibran Museum
According to his wishes, the body of poet and artist Khalil Gibran (1883-1931), author of the much-loved The Prophet (1923), was interred in the chapel of this 19th-century monastery built into the rocky slopes of a hill on the eastern outskirts of the town. Now a museum, the monas
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Dado Lookout
Perched high atop the hill southwest of HaRishonim St – the one with the red-and-white antenna tower on top – this lookout offers spectacular, often windy views. To the south you can see the Hula Valley, to the east the Golan (including Mt Hermon and the twin volcanoes of Avital an
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Great Mosque
To the east of the propylaea stands the ruined Umayyad or Great Mosque, which was built from the stones of the temples using many styles of columns and capitals. Lebanons only Umayyad ruin, outside Aanjar, it was built between the 7th and 8th centuries. There is an ablution fountai
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Madrassa al
Attached to the east side of the Great Mosque is Madrassa al-Qartawiyya, which was built by a Mamluk governor of the same name in the early 1300s, over the baptistery of the old cathedral. Famed for its fine workmanship, the madrassa has an elegant façade of black-and-white stone f
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Al
Dating to the third millennium BC, these atmospheric ruins cover a large area leading down to an ancient submerged harbour . Highlights include a street paved with geometrical Roman and Byzantine mosaics , on each side of which are rows of large columns. Look out also for the unusu
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Temple of Venus
Near the main ruins, about 300m from the acropolis, is the tiny exquisite Temple of Venus - probably dedicated to Fortuna rather than Venus - a circular building with many fluted columns. Inside, it was decorated with tiers of tabernacles and covered with a cupola. During the early
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St George Greek Orthodox Cathedral
This church in the Place d’Étoile was built in 1767, and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. In 1975, during the civil war, a bomb fell here and unearthed the ruins of a Byzantine church. Now open as a museum, the ruins incorporate Byzantine mosaic floors and a number of to
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Hammam al
While certainly not new – Hammam al-Jadid was built around 1740 – it was in use until the 1970s and is the citys best-preserved and largest hammam (with the exception of the still-functioning Hammam al-Abd). It was donated as a gift to the city by Asad Pasha al-Azem, governor of Da
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Tyre Beach Nature Reserve
Established in 1998, this small reserve - cut in half by the Rachidiye refugee camp - is an important sanctuary for birds, endangered turtles, bats and other wildlife, as well as containing a beautiful stretch of golden sandy beach. The reserve is made up of two zones: the conserva
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American University of Beirut (AUB)
One of the Middle East’s most prestigious and expensive universities, the AUB was founded in 1866 by American Protestant missionary Daniel Bliss. Spread over 28 tree-filled hectares, it is a true oasis in the heart of a fume-filled city. The on-site archaeological museum was founde
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Pigeon Rocks
The natural offshore rock arches of Pigeon Rocks are the most famous, and indeed one of the only, natural features of Beirut. The stretch of the Corniche directly in front of the rocks is an excellent vantage point, but far more interesting is to take one of the tracks down to the
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Deir el
Built over the remains of a Roman temple, this 17th-century Maronite monastery was extensively damaged during the civil war but has been fully restored. A few of the original Roman-era columns remain, one of which is built into the current buildings wall. A working monastery, it is
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Fishing Harbour & Souqs
Small, but bustling with activity, the fishing harbour is the most picturesque part of Tyre, with its brightly coloured wooden boats and old-fashioned boat repair shops. There are also a couple of fish restaurants and cafés that overlook the water and make a good vantage point for
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