Tartus is the second important seaport
in Syria. Its harbor, on the Mediterranean, links Syria with the
whole world. The Phoenicians called it Torosa, and the Byzantinians
called it " Antaradus" Tartous is full of resorts and
touristic sights. Its cities and towns, such as Kafroon, Draykish,
Mashta Al Helou, Banias, Kadmous and Safita, are renowned for
their mild climate, beautiful natural scenes and fascinating Mountain
View.
It is full of restaurants, hotels,
cafes, and right clubs. Tartous is rich archaeological sites and
historical places such as the Island of Arwad and its castle,
Amrit, the citadel of Markab, Al Kahef and Al Khawabi, Kadmous,
Al Olayka, Yahmour, Arimeh and Hosn Suleiman.
Its one of the famous citadel that
is spread along the Syrian coast line, and have played military,
strategic and religious roles at the same time. Hosn Suliman is
distinguished from all the other citadels because it has played
only a religious role as is shown in some findings in the temple
of the citadel and the writings on its walls and gates.
The coastal region is full of citadels.
The most important ones in Tarrtous are Al Markeb, Al Khawabi,
Al Kahef, Al Aremeh, Arwad , Al Oleika, Al Kadmous, Safita tower,
Yahmour and Hosn Suliman, they are all Citadels and forts that
came to witness different historical eras for thousands of years.
A historical town, 700m. From the
seashore is located 7 Km. to the south of Tartous. It is a Phoenician
city built by the Canaanites, residents of the Island of Arwad.
It is famous for the historical Roman (arena) temple, graves and
looms. Its graves are considered one of a kind on the Syrian coast,
especially those dedicated for the Royal family and men of power
in the kingdom.
The museum of Tarous embedded in
the Cathedral of Tartous, an ancient Church reconstructed in the
mid 1100's, contains exhibits that belong to different historical
periods uncovered in the area along the Syrian coast.
The museum of Arwad contains traditional handicrafts related to
the sea.
It is 6 Km south of Banyas and 500
m. above sea level. The citadel, with its huge wall and fourteen
towers, looks like a huge vessel that has embarked on the top
of the hill overlooking an endless azure sea
The road climbs, undulating over hill after
hill and winding its way through the olive groves. All of a sudden
a pink and white town comes into view in the mildest of the greenery
and the flowers, huddled on the top of a small hillock above which
rises a proud-looking square tower.
These are the houses of Safita, houses built of good stone, some
of them covered with a terrace, others with a roof of tile. And
there, standing quite upright, is one of those sturdy keeps which
the Frankish conquerors erected at vantage points everywhere,
thinking. In their vanity, that in this way they would shelter
the annexed lands from surprise attack.
