TYRE

Phoenician Tyre was queen of the seas, an island city of unprecedented splendor. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back over 4,000 years. It is considered the fourth largest city in Lebanon that summarizes all: a wonderful beach, beautiful warm guest houses, amazing people, colorful neighborhoods, delicious sea food and chill lifestyle. Tyre is located on the southern coast of Lebanon, 83 km south of Beirut .

One can call Tyre a city of ruins, built out of ruins. Its glory was due to its maritime power. The city presents itself as one of the most powerful Phoenician cities , with its two ports: the north port, known as “ Sidonian “, was always used, and the “ Egyptian “ port in the south, decommissioned since the Byzantine presence in the region.  One of the most characteristic activities of Tyre was the extraction of purple dye and its industry. The Tyrians were known as workers in dye from the shells of the MUREX shellfish. This purple dye was highly valued and held royal connotations in the ancient world. It also gave the Phoenicians their name from the greeks – Phoinikes- which means “purple people”. 

Tyre city grew wealthy from her far-reaching colonies and her industries of purple-dyed textiles. But she also attracted the attention of jealous conquerors among them the Babylonian king Nebuchandnezzar and Alexander the Great.