Sidon (Saida)

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)
Name	Address	Phone	Type
Abdul Ghani Kanaan Patisserie	Main Rd. Saida		Occidental and Oriental Pastry
Abou Draa Patisserie	Hilalya St.	-	Occidental Pastry
Abou Bassam	Al-Kodos Sq.	-	Fast Food
Abou Nawas Patisserie	Riad El-Solh St.		Occidental, Oriental Pastry
Abou Ramy Restaurant	Al-Kodos ST.	-	Fast Food
Adnan Ramlawi Patisserie	Riad el-Solh St.		Occidental, Oriental Pastry
Al Pacino Fried Chicken	Riad el-Solh St.		Fast Food
Al Baba Shahira	Riad el-Solh St.		Oriental Pastry
Al Baba Snack	Riad el-Solh St.		Fast Food
Bsat Restaurant	Old Jezine St.		Fast Food
Le Cocotier	Bramieh St.		Lebanese, European cuisine
El Gondol Company	Wastani St.		Occidental, Oriental Pastry
Groppie's Ramlawi	Riad el-Solh St.		Occidental, Oriental Pastry
Al Habbal	Riad el-Solh St.		Fast Food
Al Hallak	Jezine Rd.		Lebanese cuisine
Hijazi Patisserie	Orient Blvd.	-	Occidental, Oriental pastry
El Ikhlass	Ghazieh		Occidental, Oriental Pastry
Al Jazira	Rafic Hariri Blvd.	-	Seafood
Al Mardini Patisserie	Riad el-Solh St.		Occidental Pastry
Master Restaurant	Rafic Hariri Blvd.	-	Seafood, Steaks, Grills
Nakouzi	Riad el-Solh St.		Grills, Burgers
Nassar	Riad el-Solh St.		Lebanese, American cuisine
Nazih	Awkaf St.		Lebanese, American cuisine
Palamera Pizzeria	Rafic Hariri St.	-	Italian, Chinese cuisine
Al Rabiee	Riad el-Solh St.	-	Fast Food
Saker Restaurant	Riad el-Solh St.		Grills, Burgers
Super Snack	Riad el-Solh St.		Pizza, Burgers
Sweet Horse	Eastern Blvd.		Occidental, Oriental Pastry
Zorba	Riad el-Solh St.		Grills, Burgers

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