Aanjar

PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR

Located in the Bekaa Valley close to the border with Syria, the ruins of Aanjar are unique in Lebanon in that they represent just one homogeneous civilisation (most archaeological sites in the country have layer upon layer of Bronze age, Iron age, Hellenistic, Roman and later constructions).  Aanjar dates from the time of the Muslim Omayyad dynasty in the 8th century and was only discovered by accident as recently as the late 1940s.  The city is walled and fortified, and divided by two wide avenues - the cardo maximus and the decumanus maximus.  The Roman influence in the design is thus clear, and in fact many of the building materials were recycled from earlier Byzantine and Roman structures in the nearby area. The presence of more than 600 shops has led historians to speculate that Aanjar was predominently a commercial centre, but the fact that there are two palaces and public baths suggest that it may also have been an imperial residence or a strategic outpost (it lies on the route from Damascus to the Mediterranean).  The city is characterised by its attractive patterned brickwork and graceful, slender, columns, and also has some reasonably intact mosaic floors.

Includes private transportation, guide and entrance fees.