cathedral Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Tartus, from the 12th century. Tartus and the surrounding area are rich in antiquities and archeological sites. Various important and well known sites are located within a 30-minute drive from Tartus. These attractions include: The old city of Tartus. Margat Castle, north of the city. The historic town of Safita. Arwad island and castle. The ancient Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa, now used as the city museum. Beit el-Baik Palace. Sheikh Saleh al-Ali shrine in Al-Shaykh Badr. Hosn Suleiman Temple. Drekish town-resort. Aside from these historic sites, more modern attractions include: Alrimal Alzahabeya beach resort. Junada hotel (previously called Porto Tartous). Holiday beach resort. Mashta Al Helou resort. The outlying town of Al Hamidiyah just south of Tartus is notable for having a Greek-speaking population of about 3,000 who are the descendants of Ottoman Greek Muslims from the island of Crete but usually confusingly referred to as Cretan Turks. Their ancestors moved there in the late 19th century as refugees from Crete after the Kingdom of Greece acquired the island from the Ottoman Empire following the Greco-Turkish War of 1897. Since the start of the Iraqi War, a few thousand Iraqi nationals now reside in Tartus. International relations Twin towns — sister cities Tartus is twinned with: Kütahya, Turkey Piraeus, Greece (2022) Tortosa, Spain (2007) Notable people Saadallah Wannous (1941–1997), playwright and first Arab to deliver the International Theatre Day address Sheikh Saleh Al-Ali, pre-independence Syrian revolutionary who fought against the French mandate Dr. Halim Barakat, novelist, sociologist and retired research professor Mohammad Yousaf Abu al-Farah Tartusi, Muslim saint of the Junaidia order Jamal Suliman, actor Taim Hasan, actor Farrah Yousef, singer and Arab Idol Season 2 finalist Assef Shawkat, former deputy Minister of Defense of Syria and brother-in-law of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Mohsen Saeed Hussein Khaddour, Syrian Arab Army officer known as Lion of Al-Badia References External links Articles, stories and posts about Tartous (Tartus) Sea Side by Mariyah and Abufares. A novel with the backdrop of the Syrian coast and Tartous Tartus Port Abufares said... the world according to a Tartoussi, an English blog from Tartous eTartus - a website for Tartus news and services People from Tartus Cities in Syria Populated coastal places in Syria Populated places in Tartus District Castles and fortifications of the Kingdom of Jerusalem Coloniae (Roman) Mediterranean port cities and towns in Syria Castles and fortifications