Baalbek

Baalbek, in Lebanon's fertile Bekaa Valley, is one of the most spectacular ancient sites in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to some of the largest and best-preserved Roman temples ever built, on a scale that dwarfs almost all others. Ancient Heliopolis, as the Romans called it, was a great religious sanctuary, and its ruins are staggering: six colossal columns of the Temple of Jupiter, among the tallest ever raised, still stand against the sky, while the nearby Temple of Bacchus is one of the most complete and richly decorated Roman temples in existence. The sheer, stupendous scale of the stonework, including some of the largest hewn blocks on earth, makes Baalbek genuinely awe-inspiring.

What you actually see

• The Temple of Jupiter - the six colossal surviving columns.
• The Temple of Bacchus - the magnificent, well-preserved temple.
• The great courtyards - the vast temple complex.
• The megaliths - the enormous stone blocks of the quarry.

When to go

Spring, April to June, and autumn, September to October, for the mildest weather in the Bekaa Valley, which is hot in summer and cold in winter; the site is expansive and best explored with time and, ideally, a guide to grasp its history and scale.

Honest expectations

For those able to go safely, though, the sheer, stupendous scale and preservation of Baalbek's colossal Roman temples, among the greatest on earth, make it a genuinely awe-inspiring and unforgettable ancient site.

Nearby

The Bekaa Valley wineries and the town of Baalbek are close by.