The name Ia'at originates from the Syriac word meaning “patio, tower or guardhouse.” Evidence of roads and aqueducts linking Ia'at to the city of Ba'albeck indicate that it was used as a leisure resort by the Romans, and attest to its antiquity. Some even say that Ia'at is as old as Ba'albeck, the City of the Sun, itself. A column made from local limestone, with a mutilated cornice, stands high in the middle of the town, with Roman-style motifs decorating its length. A historical cave was recently discovered, believed to be a funeral chamber with rock cut tombs common of the Byzantine era. Other sites of interests in Ia'at include remnants of old oil mills and grape presses.
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Location:
Ia'at, Baalbek/Baalbeck in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Distance from Beirut: 90km
Altitude: 1,050m