Lebanon - Useful information for your trip

Lebanon is a country of the Middle East, in Asia, with Beirut as a capital city. It overlooks the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea to the west and is crossed by Mount Lebanon range, which has Qurnat al-Sawda as its highest peak with its 3088 m. The main rivers of the country are Nahr al-Kabir Litani and Orontes. The climate is Mediterranean temperate, with cool, rainy winters and hot, humid summers.

In ancient times, Lebanon housed large forests of cedar of Lebanon, which is now the national symbol. Because of deforestation in favor of commercial exploitation, the spread of this plant has been greatly reduced today. In the mountains you can find oak forests, pine and cypress trees, while on the coast Mediterranean vegetation prevails. Wildlife include wolf, jackal and gazelle.

The economy of Lebanon is based on competition and free trade, with a strict enforcement of bank secrecy. The civil war that lasted from 1975 to 1990 has severely damaged the country's infrastructure, but it has not undermined the role of regional hub for financial sectors. Italy is the first commercial partner of Lebanon and contributes to around 11% of total imports of the country.

As for tourism, another important item of national economy, Lebanon is rich in places of interest. UNESCO has recognized five Lebanese archaeological sites as world heritage sites: Anjar, Baalbek, Byblos, Tyre and the Qadisha Valley. Even the Cedars of God have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998. The major cities are also interesting for tourists, the beautiful capital Beirut, and Tripoli, a Phoenician city rich in history today.