Dahr Safra … A site that combines nature and religious tourism

Mountains and valleys have come together with the sea and picturesque nature along with climatic and archeological factors to make Dahr Safra one of the most beautiful tourist villages in the Syrian coast.

“Dahr Safra” is one of the villages of the “Al-Rawda” sub-district, which is administratively affiliated to the city of Baniyas. As for the name of the village, it is said that “Al-Dahr” means the upper part of the mountain, which is the front of the mountain whose color is different from the color of the mountain and “Safra” may be an Arabic name meaning “yellow,” or Syriac or Aramaic name that means “morning or a small bird like a sparrow.” In Chaldean, it is called “Saffurah,” which means morning, and thus the meaning of the name is “the Sunrise Mount.”

 The village is about 260 meters above sea level and oversees the southern plain of Banyas, one of the most mountainous areas near the sea in the Syrian coast, so the village enjoys a sea view that extends from Baniyas in the north, to Tartous in the south, as it overlooks the mountain villages on the other hand.

Dahr Safra has a special beauty that varies from season to season, as it enjoys mild and rain-heavy winters, and lightly humid summers compared to the nearby plain. The agricultural crops in the village vary between greenhouses’ crops such as vegetables and fruits on the one hand, and growing of olive trees, citrus, almonds and other fruitful trees on the other hand.

The village’s location which overlooks hills, mountains, valleys and the sea as well, has given it special tourist significance, in addition to the  archeological and religious monuments that it contains. There is the monastery of St. “Belmana”, which is frequented by visitors from all over Syria and abroad because of its aesthetic and specific construction that reflects the civilizations and cultures of the region. There is also the shrine of St. Charbel, which is a spectacular tourist site, and the archeological mosque in “Qarqafati.”

Other religious and archeological monuments contained in the village include the Royal Church near Ein Shama, an abandoned archeological church, which was a lighthouse and was demolished by Turkish occupiers during World War I.

– St. George Church, which dates back to the 19th century. It was built on the ruins of an older church, and then it was rebuilt and restored in 1960 AD.

The people of the villages of Dahr Safra and Qarqafati share one shrine, which is sanctified by Muslims and Christians as well. Muslims call it the shrine of Sheikh Muhammad al-Riyahi, while their Christian brothers call it Mar Manos Monastery. This shrine is a symbol of the harmonious Syrian fabric, which reflects the prevailing love and the spiritual and patriotic connection between the various segments of the civilized Syrian society.

There is also Wadi Sheikh Mansour, where the caves, corridors and sarcophagi that were used as burials since the Byzantine era are found ,  in addition to  many finds and pottery vessels.

The village of Dhar Safra is well known for its heavy outflowing spring water, as a number of springs emerge from its lands, including Ain Al-Bayda – Ain Al-Sharasher – Ain Abu Sananir – Ain Al-Juba – Ain Shama – Ain Al-Hoor and Ain Al-Sharshar, which are abundant springs that do not dry out throughout the seasons.

With regard to the educational situation in the village, it is reported in the village’s educational history that Abu Al- Alaa Al-Maari Private High School had formed along with the High School of the teacher Youssef Al-Bani, who is Lebanese, or the Baniyas National High School, the oldest two high schools in all Banyas.

Amal Farhat