Ṣaydā (صيدا, Sidon)

Ṣaydā, or Sidon, as it is better known, is a large city on the Mediterranean coast in the southern part of Lebanon. The area was settled in the 3rd millenium BC and it has been ruled by the Assyrians, thr Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans, before it became part of the Byzantine Empire.

The Muslims conquered the Levant, including Sidon, in 636. In 1110, the city was captured by the Crusaders, but Saladin recaptured it in 1187. Ten years later, the Crusaders took control once again. Sidon remained an important Crusader stronghold until 1249, when it was destroyed by the Ayyubids. Invading Mongols destroyed it again in 1260.

In the 16th century, it bacame part of the Ottoman Empire. After WWI, Sidon became part of the French Mandate of Lebanon. When Israel declared independence in 1948, Sidon saw an influx of thousands of Palestinian refugees. In 1951, Lebanon became independent and the city became part of that country.

During the civial war in the 1980s and the subsequent occupation by Israel, many buildings in the city were destroyed.

Despite it being destroyed several times throughout its history, Sidon boats a variety of historic buildings and monuments. In the Old City, numerous alleyways and souks can be explored.

Points of interest

There are numerous archaeological sites in and around Sidon, but excavations have occurred intermittently, because of wars and several occupations by Israeli forces.
The Green Mosque.
Kalaat Saida al-Bahriya (قلعة صيدا البحرية, Sidon Sea Castle) was a fortress that was built by the Crusaders in 1228. Nowadays only ruins of two towers connected by a wall remain. The fortress is located near the Port of Sidon.
The Khan al-Franj (خان الفرنج, Caravanserai of the French) comprises a complex that was built in the 16th century for accommodating French merchants and goods in order to develop trade with Europe. The khan has a rectangular courtyard, aurrounded by galleries. In its center is a fountain. It is the usual layout for khans of the era, which served as inns for merchants and travellers.
There is a Mosque in the old city of Sidon.
The Muthaf Alsaabun (متحف الصابون, Sidon Soap Museum) opened in 2000 traces the history of soap making in the region and its different manufacturing methods. Luxury soaps made from olive oil are sold in the museum's craft shop.
The Qalaat Al Muizz (قلعة القديس لويس, Castle of St. Louis) was built in 1254 by French Crusaders, on top of the remains of an earlier fortress that had been built there by the Fatimid caliph Al Muizz. The castle was demolished and completely rebuilt by the Muslims after their conquest of the area in 636. It was rebuilt once again in 1254 by Crusaders. Later, the Muslims restored the castle. In the 17th century, it was rebuilt during the times of the Ottoman Empire. The building was later looted and damaged. During the Lebanese civil war and the subsequent occupation of Sidon by Israeli forces, the castle was ruined. The remains of the St. Louis Castle are located south of the Old Souks near Murex Hill.
The Qasr Debbane (قصر دبانة, Debbane Palace) was built in 1721 as the private residence for Ali Agha al-Hammud and his family. The palace features an indoor fountain, numerous elaborate multicolored mosaics, muqarnas ornaments and sculpted Lebanese cedar ceilings. After the Lebanese civil war, it was converted into a museum.
The Temple of Eshmun (معبد أشمون) was originally established by the Eshmun cult in the 7th century BC. It was dedicated to the Phoenician god of healing. It was damaged in an earthquake in the 4th century BC. With the advent of Christianity, the cult of Eshmun was banned and the temple was abandoned. The remaining building was futher damage by an earthquake in 570 and its stone blocks were used as a building material for other constructions and the remains fell into oblivion. They were rediscovered in 1901 and excavation of the site took place from 1963 until the start of the Libanese civil war in 1975. The site was neglected during this war and the subsequent occupation by Israel. Some artefacts from the site can be seen in the National Museum of Beirut, while other were taken to the Louvre in Paris. The remain of the temple are located in the north of Sidon, not far from the Awali River.
The British War Cemetery is the burial site of British troops who died during the 1941 campaign against the Vichy French troops. The cemetery contains 176 Commonwealth burials of WWII and nine war graves of other nationalities. It was designed by G. Vey. It is one of the best kept gardens in Sidon, but access is restricted.

There are numerous hotels and restaurants in Sidon, but most people opt to stay in Beirut, 40 km (25 mi) to the north and visit Sidon on a day trip.

Hotels in Ṣaydā

Images

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