Zarzita زرزيتا
Zarzita (زرزيتا) is a small village with scattered Byzantine-era remains to the southwest of Jebel Samaan (جبل سمعان). The village seems to …
Burj Heidar برج حيدر
Burj Heidar (برج حيدر) is a Kurdish village to the east of Qalaat Samaan (قلعة سمعان). The site was settled at least …
Kafr Nabo كفر نابو
The tiny village of Kafr Nabo (كفر نابو) has several Byzantine-era remains and is worth a stop if visiting the nearby sites …
Burjkeh برجكة
Burjkeh (برجكة) is a small Kurdish village with two items of interest: a small Byzantine church and an impressive tower after which …
Fafertin فافرتين
The friendly Kurdish village of Fafertin (فافرتين) is on the surface entirely unremarkable. It is surprising to find in this otherwise nondescript …
Kafr Lab كفر لاب
Kafr Lab (كفر لاب) is a minor yet charming Byzantine-era site hidden between olive groves in the region of Jebel Samaan (جبل …
Basufan باصوفان
The friendly Kurdish village of Basufan (باصوفان) contains sparse remains from the Byzantine period of what was one of the largest churches …
Banastur بنستور
Banastur (بنستور) is a Byzantine-era site on the eastern edge of Jebel Samaan (جبل سمعان). This small settlement has only a few …
al-Bara البارة
al-Bara (البارة) is the site of an extensive Byzantine-era settlement, perhaps the largest in the limestone massif, and should be included on …
Serjilla سرجلا
Perhaps the most well preserved of Byzantine-era sites in the limestone massif, Serjilla (سرجلا) should be included on any itinerary to the region. Nowhere …