Show crusaders castles dot early syrian districts wonderful monuments of bygone civilizations with their amazing diversity of architectural styles are gifts of beirut to the world extending from beirut as ancient and modern gateway to asia and seaport city tor for syria and lebanon are countless exhibits ot of human migrations grat ions and ambitions of early centuries notes a correspondent in the los angeles times beside the waves yawn the burial chambers of phoenician necropolis polls further inland astride the first spurs of the mountains frown the walls of crusaders castles with the splendor that was rome to be found on the desert plains of palmyre the tiny corner of the world is the birthplace of three great religions from beirut which dominates the maritime horizon and displays the tops toli of the lebanon mountains are the famous grove of cedars from which solomon built his temple in jerusalem with the 50 giant trees preserved as a shrine commemorating this biblical be occasion casion at tripoli esthe is the famous castle erected by the counts of toulouse maritime masters of tripoli at the time of the crusades Beyond the century old orchards is the famous white spot known to the ancient as el mina the port the castle of Is known as the largest castle built by the crusaders and covers an area of 60 acres near the famous castle are the small castles abodes of the latin knights following the route rote founded by the first macedonian kings entry is made to the ancient city of famed for its early gothic architecture as built by the architects who came from chartres antiochia one of the three greatest cities of the roman homan world has its relics of pagan days by its byzantine architecture architect uie exhibited in mosques with the high pointed minarets mina min areti suggestive of turkey |