Sidon (Saida)


Sidon (Saida) picture
Altitude: 10m
Distance from Beirut: 43km
Getting there: From Beirut, take Khalde Highway South passing through Khalde, Damour, Naame, Saadiat, along the beautiful coast of the Mediterranean sea.

SIDON (SAIDA) is said to mean "fishing", and even today fishermen moor their boats in the small picturesque port. Sidon was the third great Phoenician city-state, rivaling Byblos and Tyre as a naval power. In Darius' time, towards the end of the 6th century B.C., it was the capital of the fifth Persian satrapy and a showplace of buildings and gardens. The town was conquered by the Crusaders after a famous siege lasting 47 days, then retaken by Saladin 70 years later.
Sidon is known as the capital of the South. It is surrounded by beautiful orchards of oranges, lemon, banana and loquat trees. The city's northern harbour is graced by Castle of the Sea, erected in the early 13th Century by the crusading Knights of St. John of the Hospital of Jerusalem on an islet at the mouth of the harbour.
The shell of the Castle of St. Louis atop the Phoenician acropolis near Murex Hill, so named after the Murex shell from which the famous Phoenician purple dye was extracted. In the old town more recent buildings worth a visit are Khan as-Sabun, Khan el-Franj and the Great Mosqueabove the Egyptian Harbour which still retains the 13th Century walls of the fortressChurch of the Hospitallers of St. John.

Restaurants in Sidon (Saida)
NameAddressPhoneType
Abdul Ghani Kanaan PatisserieMain Rd. Saida Occidental and Oriental Pastry
Abou Draa PatisserieHilalya St.-Occidental Pastry
Abou BassamAl-Kodos Sq.-Fast Food
Abou Nawas PatisserieRiad El-Solh St. Occidental, Oriental Pastry
Abou Ramy RestaurantAl-Kodos ST.-Fast Food
Adnan Ramlawi PatisserieRiad el-Solh St. Occidental, Oriental Pastry
Al Pacino Fried ChickenRiad el-Solh St. Fast Food
Al Baba ShahiraRiad el-Solh St. Oriental Pastry
Al Baba SnackRiad el-Solh St. Fast Food
Bsat RestaurantOld Jezine St. Fast Food
Le CocotierBramieh St. Lebanese, European cuisine
El Gondol CompanyWastani St. Occidental, Oriental Pastry
Groppie's RamlawiRiad el-Solh St. Occidental, Oriental Pastry
Al HabbalRiad el-Solh St. Fast Food
Al HallakJezine Rd. Lebanese cuisine
Hijazi PatisserieOrient Blvd.-Occidental, Oriental pastry
El IkhlassGhazieh Occidental, Oriental Pastry
Al JaziraRafic Hariri Blvd.-Seafood
Al Mardini PatisserieRiad el-Solh St. Occidental Pastry
Master RestaurantRafic Hariri Blvd.-Seafood, Steaks, Grills
NakouziRiad el-Solh St. Grills, Burgers
NassarRiad el-Solh St. Lebanese, American cuisine
NazihAwkaf St. Lebanese, American cuisine
Palamera PizzeriaRafic Hariri St.-Italian, Chinese cuisine
Al RabieeRiad el-Solh St.-Fast Food
Saker RestaurantRiad el-Solh St. Grills, Burgers
Super SnackRiad el-Solh St. Pizza, Burgers
Sweet HorseEastern Blvd. Occidental, Oriental Pastry
ZorbaRiad el-Solh St. Grills, Burgers

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