Baalbeck:

About 85 km east-northeast of Beirut, Baalbeck is the embodiment of the superlative. It is one of the world's greatest historical sites, the most gigantic complex of Roman temples ever built. Its columns are the tallest ever erected and its stones the largest ever used.

The Acropolis encompasses the Temples of Bacchus, Venus and Jupiter. At a short distance lie the ruins of an Umayyad mosque and vestiges of Arab ramparts can be seen in the town.

For many years Baalbeck's floodlit mercurial columns presided over the annual renowned International Festival which featured theater groups, orchestras, ballet troupes and performers from all parts of the world.