A highlight of the souq area is the Khan Al Franj (Inn of the Foreigners), the most beautiful and best preserved of all the limestone khans built by Fakhreddine (Fakhr Ad Din Al Maan II) in the 17th century. Wonderfully restored courtesy of the Hariri Foundation (www.hariri-foundation.org), it consists of vaulted arcades surrounding a large rectangular courtyard with a central fountain, and now houses Saida's tourist office and the ateliers of some craftspeople.
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Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
23.2 MILES
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22.81 MILES
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28.62 MILES
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Built by Muslims in the 13th century to protect the road from Tyre to Damascus, Nimrod Fortress rises fairy-tale-like on a long, narrow ridge (altitude…
22.18 MILES
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23.29 MILES
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14.54 MILES
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23.01 MILES
One of the Galilee’s loveliest creek-side trails, about 3km long, follows the Iyyun (Ayun) Stream from its crossing from Lebanon into Israel, through a…
Nearby attractions
0.05 MILES
Just behind the Khan Al Franj, on a picturesque square, the Bab As Saray Mosque is the oldest in Saida, dating from 1201, and is filled with beautiful…
0.09 MILES
Along with Tripoli's, Saida's old city is Lebanon's most characterful and authentic souq area. It's a delight to wander the narrow lanes, ducking into…
0.09 MILES
Entered from the souq via a tall staircase marked with a sign, this former Ottoman aristocrat’s building built in 1721 has intricate Mamluk decoration,…
0.14 MILES
Located in a beautifully restored stone-vaulted soap factory dating from the 17th century, this is a museum of what has traditionally been an important…
0.19 MILES
Facing the northern tip of the harbour, the Omari (Great) Mosque is said to be one of the finest examples of Islamic religious architecture of the 13th…
0.21 MILES
Erected in 1228 by the Crusaders, this picturesque castle sits on a small island that was formerly the site of a temple dedicated to Melkart, the…
2.18 MILES
About 3km northeast of Saida, this is Lebanon’s only Phoenician site boasting more than mere foundations. Begun in the 7th century BC, the temple complex…
8. Mleeta Resistance Tourist Landmark
11.09 MILES
An intriguing mix of memorial, museum and theme park, this resistance monument at Mleeta, on Mt A'mel near Nabatieh, celebrates and commemorates Hezbollah…
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