Time Zone |
Europe/Bucharest |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+2 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+3 |
Time Zone |
Asia/Beirut |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+2 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+3 |
Bucharest, the capital and largest city of Romania, is located in the middle of the Danube River Plain in the southeast of the country and is a political, economic and cultural center. The historic city is a blend of Orthodox, Byzantine and French flavors, and was once known as "Little Paris". The old town has preserved medieval buildings and Orthodox churches, while the iconic Palace of the Parliament (now the Palais des Congrès), the world's second-largest administrative building, is an imposing sight. As the economic hub of Romania, Bucharest has a vibrant and diverse mix of industrial, technological and service companies, as well as universities and cultural institutions.
Located on the Mediterranean coast in southern Lebanon, Tyre is one of the world's oldest cities and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. An important city-state of the ancient Phoenician civilization, it was once a famous center for the trade in purple dyes and cedar wood, and its maritime trade network once stretched across the Mediterranean.
The city survives with a large number of archaeological remains, including a Roman-era arena, arched streets, Byzantine churches and Crusader castles. The unique landscape of Tyre's beaches intermingled with historical sites has made it an important tourist destination in Lebanon. Modern-day Tyre still retains its traditional fishing port and specializes in citrus cultivation and handicraft production.
Despite the devastation of many wars, Tyre is an important living museum for the study of ancient Mediterranean civilization, as the layers of civilization spanning 5,000 years are revealed through ongoing archaeological work.