From Lebanon start the celebrations of the Ancient Mediterranean Days with a Tour of the nation following the Phoenicians’ Route. First stop the Barouk Cedar Forest, the tree symbol of the Phoenician civilization.
The tour in Lebanon, even followed by European journalists, continues to Byblos, the oldest inhabited city in the world. Addition to visiting the archaeological site and the town, the Phoenicians’ Route delegation visited the headquarters of the LAU – Lebanese American University, financed by the Cardahi Foundation. The rector of the University confirmed the interest to sign a scientific collaboration agreement with The Phoenicians’ Route and to host seminars and research activities related cultural route.
The day concludes with a visit to Adonis Valley, famous for its beautiful landscapes, managed by Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve UNESCO, new technical partner for the environmental and cultural sector in Lebanon.
Third day of the tour in Lebanon: Tyre. Among the ancient cities that ideally compose the Phoenicians’ Route, Tyre is unquestionably the most representative of Phoenician identity. Warmly welcomed by the Mayor Hassan M.T. Dbouk and other delegates of the Municipality, the participants of the Phoenicians’ Route and journalists, led by the Tourist Guides Syndicate Lebanese, have visited the wonderful vestiges meeting archaeologists and a Representative of the UN peacekeeping mission. Also interesting the encounter with shipwrights in the ancient port city of Tyre. The mayor has confirmed their availability to collaborate actively for the development of the Phoenicians’ Route Network in Lebanon.
The fourth day of the Lebanon tour begins with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Beirut, which boasts a magnificent collection of manufactured articles, statues and sarcophagi from the Lebanese archaeological sites, one of the main attractions of Beirut. The most precious object in the museum is certainly the Ahiram sarcophagus, which bears the first known inscription in Phoenician alphabet, ancestor of modern Western alphabets. Also splendid objects related to the cult of Eshmun, jewels, statues of human figures in bronze with high Phoenician headpiece and impressive collection of anthropomorphic Phoenician sarcophagi.
The fourth and final day of the Tour in Lebanon leads to the discovery of the wonderful and magical archaeological site of Baalbek. The pictures speak for themselves !!!
Noteworthy is also the visit to the oldest wineries in Lebanon, those of Xsara !!!
