Lebanon: Roman Tyre

Our first day trip out of Beirut, we beaded south to Tyre (Sur), which is actually closer to Haifa than to Beirut. Our minivan drove through half a dozen Hezbollah checkpoints, but didn't get stopped. I didn't see any vehicle getting stopped. As we approached Tyre, we began to see UN peacekeepers. Tyre is one of the oldest cities on this side of the world, founded by Phoenicians. Jesus preached here; however, in the past century Tyre has been much plagued by military conflicts and wars.

What we braved the trip to Tyre to see was the UNESCO Roman sites of Al Bass and Al Mina. Al Bass has so many stone sarcofagi, it makes the Appian way look like a regular country road. The real highlight was the hippodrome, the best preserved in the world. I have lost count theaters or even amphitheaters that we have visited. Getting up in the stands of a circu was a first. Al Mina has an unusual square arena, and a porticoed road that had a geometric mosaic surface, then was remodeled to a marble surface; such extravagance.

Today the town itself is a laid back port, still trying their hand at tourism.

Note to fellow travellers: Direct minivans from Beirut to Tyre (they wait until full to leave, but sufficient traffic makes that frequent), leave from the Kuwait Embassy roundabout. 250K LL per person ($1=106K LL).

In the Direct Minivan from Beirut to Tyre.




The minivan stopped for gas. It's 1,940,000 Lebanese Pounds for 20 litres. And it's one USD for a car wash. The exchange rate is 1 USD = 108,000 LL (Lebanese Pounds). How about that Ford Mustang?


Some photos from Al-Bass Tyre Necropolis Archaeological Site. First, a bunch of sarcaphagi and tombs.






Then add in a Roman Triumphal Arch and Roman Road.








The Hippodrome is adjacent to the Roman Arch and Road. It's the best preserved Roman hippodrome/circus in the world.










Looking to the grandstands on turn 3 and turn 4.








From the Al Bass site it's a short walk along the beach road to the Al Mina Roman Archaeological Site .




Al Mina is next to the Mediterranean Sea which you can see in the distance in the 1st photo below of the Major Porticoed Road.










The Square Arena for boxing matches, etc. Very cool!




Looking down the Major Porticoed road. To the left you can see a few columns from the Palaestra in the two photos below.




A view, away from the sea towards the modern town, of the Major Porticoed Road.


A panoramic view of the Palaestra.


Looking down the Minor Porticoed Road towards the Major Porticoed Road.


Christian Crusaders built a church among the ruined city reusing Roman columns.


Finally we walked along the beach road to the modern city and its port. Not very touristy.


The ancient port is submerged.


today, Port Tyre is filled with cats and fishing boats, NOT tourist siteseeing boats.




We walked back on the promenade to the minivans, stopping to watch some fisherman haul in their nets, and for a tasty falafel meal.