Umayyad City Ruins

The Umayyad City Ruins, located in the small town of Aanjar, Lebanon, lie a few kilometers east of the Syrian border. The city was built in 726AD by the Umayyad caliph Hisham bin Abdul Malik, who intended it to be his new capital. Today, the ancient city is a tourist site and provides a glimpse into a civilization that once ruled the Middle East. The ruins are made up of buildings, palaces and markets, as well as an ancient citadel. Visitors can explore the inner city and the fortresses, and take in the remains of the churches, columns and shops. The site also features the remains of a small mosque and ancient houses. Popular attractions include beautiful mosaic floors, a water cistern and the amazing Aanjar Mosque, which still stands and serves as a reminder of the city’s past. The city stands as a major tourist attraction, inspiring visitors with its unique architecture and immense history.