UNIFIL: conservation of the historical archaeological site of Tire

(To UNIFIL)
23/11/21

With the realization of a new project for the recovery and enhancement of the archaeological site of Al-Mina which is located in the ancient city of Tire, in the South of Lebanon, the Italian UNIFIL mission's Blue Helmets continue to help in safeguarding the historical / cultural heritage Lebanese.

The works involved the maintenance of the existing photovoltaic lighting system and the expansion of the same in two other areas of the archaeological site, an area of ​​inestimable interest that is part of the archaeological remains of Tire, located in the south-western part of the homonymous area. Phoenician city, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984, containing remains from the Greek, Roman and Byzantine eras, including civil buildings, colonnades, public baths, streets with mosaics and the rectangular theater. Among the remains stands a long and imposing road, flanked by rows of sumptuous columns of one meter in diameter and eight meters in height, mosaic paved, 175 meters long that leads to the ancient Phoenician port, called the Egyptian port because it is exposed to the south. where is Egypt.

The project, financed with funds from the Italian Ministry of Defense, developed and completed by the CIMIC cell (Civil-Military Cooperation) of the command of the western sector of southern Lebanon, was carried out in close coordination with the local authorities, making use of local labor force, and is included among those supporting the local community in relation to operations aimed at supporting and conserving the Lebanese historical / cultural heritage.

The initiative was particularly recognized and appreciated by the Lebanese authorities who attended the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by the mayor and the commander of the Italian contingent in Lebanon, Brigadier General Stefano Lagorio.

The Italian Military Contingent, based on an aircraft brigade Friuli, in addition to the fundamental control operations of the territory for the fulfillment of the UNIFIL mission, by virtue of the Italian awareness and sensitivity for art and culture, it also supports the Lebanese community in the conservation of the historical and acheological heritage.