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(78 km from Beirut) -
Archaeological Tell and Church Wall Paintings
Known as Ammiya in the second millennium B.C., the modern town of Amyoun lies on an important archaeological tell. Of major interest are the churches of Mar Jurius
(St. George), built on the cellar of a Roman temple, and Mar Fauqa, or St.
Phocas, built by local architects during the Crusader period. The entire interior of St.Phocas is covered with
Byzantine-style wall paintings of the 12th and 13th centuries. A third church is the modern red-roofed Mar Youhanna
(St. John) perched on a rocky cliff with tomb openings on its southeastern facade.
Near the old town government building, or "Serail,"
is the Chapel of
Marina, an ancient burial vault converted into a chapel.
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Getting
There ...
From Chekka (65km north of Beirut), drive in the direction of The
Cedars, Amyoun is 12km far from Chekka. The Amyoun you want to visit is the one perched on a 364-meter-long cliff, not the new
town along the highway that brings you into the area called Koura. If you look
at the cliff, you will notice its facade dotted with a series of ancient tomb
openings. This is Amyoun's calling card. Two roads lead to the left from the highway, bringing
you cliff side and into this picturesque town. (See
North Map)
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