Amrit

Set in a largely deserted agricultural area with the sea glistening in the background,  Amrit was an ancient religious center built as a complement to the Phoenician port settlement on the nearby island of Arwad.  It is the only remaining site in Syria that contains a mixture of both Phoenician and Persian architectural influences.   The most important monument on the site dates back to the fourth century B.C.:  A unique temple constructed around a sacred pool, surrounded on three sides by a colonnaded arcade.  A local spring renowned for its healing powers feeds the sacred pool, which is adorned at its center by a small sanctuary on a rocky platform.  The site also includes a mausoleum, funerary towers, and a stadium.