Lebanon - On Location

Founded in the 8th Century, the Umayyad city of Anjar stood at the trading crossroads between Beirut and Damascus, and the crossing between Homs and Tiberiade.   Given UNESCO World Heritage status in 1998, the ruins remain a testament to the Umayyad architecture.

This Phoenician city, where a triad of deities was worshipped.  Known as Heliopolis during the Hellenistic period, it retained its religious function into Roman times when the sanctuary of the Heliopolitan Jupiter attracted thousands of pilgrims.

With a population of around 2.5 Million, Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon.  Beirut has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years, and was one of Phoenicia's most prominent city states, making it one of the oldest cities in the world.  Over the course of history, the Phonecian, Greeks, Roman and Ottomans have all left their cultural mark on this Mediterranean city.  Look closely at some of the buildings and you will see the impact of the Lebanese Civil War and wars with Israel.

Situated high amongst the Chouf Mountains amongst stunning terraced gardens and orchards, Beiteddine Palace is a sumptuous 19th century gem.  Designed by an Italian architect, the palace was built over the course of 30 years between 1788 and 1818. It was built for Ottoman-appointed governor of the region, Emir Bashir Chehab II. Its name translates to ‘House of Faith’, while its design reflects a mixture between Arabic and Italian baroque styles.  During the French mandate, the palace was used for local administration, and after 1930 it was declared a historic monument. From 1943, Lebanon’s first post-independence president declared it as his summer palace.  

Established around 5000 BC, Byblos is considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Located around 40km north of Beirut the city established itself on the trading route with Egypt. “Byblos” is Greek for papyrus. The Bible was named for Byblos as it was known as “the papyrus book.”

In 1984 UNESCO inscribed Byblos as a cultural World Heritage Site, recognizing the historic value of the ruins of many successive civilizations found there. It has been closely linked to the legends and history of the Mediterranean region for thousands of years, and is directly associated with the history and diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet.

The ancient city of Tyre (Sour in Arabic) is where the purple pigmant dye was thought to have been invented.  Located around 80km south of Beirut, this great Phonecian city reigned over the seas and founded the prosperous colonies of Cadiz and Carthage.