Tyre

Tyre is an ancient city and archaeological site on the southern Lebanese coast, featuring two harbors and extensive Roman ruins spread across the landscape. A causeway connects the former island to the mainland, creating a unified complex that includes a Roman hippodrome, Byzantine streets decorated with mosaics, and remains from multiple civilizations.

Alexander the Great transformed the island city in 332 BCE by constructing a causeway to the mainland during a seven-month military siege. This monumental construction project marked a turning point in the city's history and concluded with its conquest.

The city was historically a major center for purple dye production extracted from sea snails, a luxury good that symbolized power across the Mediterranean world. This trade shaped the daily life and prosperity of its inhabitants for generations.

The site is walkable with open areas where you can view the ruins in their natural setting. Visit during cooler months to avoid the intense heat that can make exploring uncomfortable.

Excavations have uncovered remains from five distinct civilizations: Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader periods. This layering reveals how the city served as a center for successive powers and empires over thousands of years.