Al-Bass sits near the main road into Tyre and holds the bulk of the monumental Roman construction: a hippodrome measuring 480 metres in length, with an estimated capacity of around 30,000 spectators. It is one of the largest hippodromes ever excavated anywhere in the Roman world, and the rows of seating, the central spine, and the starting gates remain readable from ground level. A triumphal arch stands at the entrance — a well-preserved example with three arched passageways, still largely intact.
The necropolis at Al-Bass is equally remarkable. Lined along the colonnaded road are hundreds of marble and stone sarcophagi from the 2nd to 6th centuries AD, some elaborately carved with mythological scenes, others plain and worn smooth. Many are still in situ, standing where they were placed nearly two millennia ago. The sheer density of the burial ground makes clear how important Tyre was in the Roman provincial hierarchy. Given the security situation in southern Lebanon since 2024, check current access conditions before planning a visit.