Safita

Safita's white keep - the Chastel Blanc of the Templars - still crowns its hill town, the tallest crusader tower standing anywhere: twenty-eight metres of pale limestone visible for miles, with a vaulted chapel filling its ground floor that has served the town's Orthodox community for centuries. Stairs climb inside to a roof with views from the mountains to the sea. The town around it is a pleasant hill place of stone lanes and cafes.

What you actually see

• The keep - the tallest surviving crusader tower.
• The chapel - the church within the tower's ground floor.
• The roof view - mountains one way, the Mediterranean the other.
• The hill town - stone lanes wrapped around the tower.

When to go

April to June and September to November are mild. Clear winter days give the longest views. Summer evenings on the hill are pleasant.

Honest expectations

The keep is a working church as much as a monument - visits should defer to services. The stair is steep and dark. Facilities in town are simple.

Nearby

Hosn Suleiman is north in the hills, and Tartus is west.