Beirut is the
capital of Lebanon, and was called the ‘Paris of the Middle East’. The civil
conflict that lasted around 15 years placed a strain on the city. However,
since the 1990’s, Beirut has started offering the best of
Lebanon again. Many of the most popular Lebanon
attractions are in Beirut. Here are five must-do things to
do in Beirut.
1. Saint
George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral
This church is
located in the Parliament Square, which is above the ruins of a Roman law
school. The church has been standing since the 18th century and is
the oldest church in the city. The church reopened in 2003 after restorations
were completed.
2. Hamra Street
Hamra Street is
called Rue Hamra and is one of the most important commercial centers and
streets in Beirut. From the 1960’s to the 1990’s, the street was the home to
many artists, journalists, and intellectuals who would visit the many cafes and
theaters. Today, the street has shifted its identity and is now lined with many
western stores, coffee shops, and hotels. It also attracts youth with the
amount of clubs and bars on the street.
3. National
Museum of Beirut
The National
Museum of Beirut is located at the front of the Green line, which was the front
line during the civil war. The museum suffered the most amount of damage than any other buildings in the area. The National Museum of
Beirut has been restored and is the home to the largest collections of
archaeological artifacts within Lebanon.
It has one of the most extensive collections in the Middle East because
the collection is made up of over 1,300 pieces.
4. Grand Omari
Mosque
Taking a visit
to the Grand Omari Mosque is also a visit to the heart of the layered history
of the city. Before the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque was built, the Grand Omari
Mosque was the most important mosque in the city. The mosque also has unique
origins since the foundation was laid originally to construct a pagan Roman
temple. The foundation was then used to build a Byzantine church and was later
turned into a Crusade church. There have been restorations that revealed
inscriptions that date back to each period of the mosque’s history.
5. Central
District
The Central
District is named after the geographic location. It is also the commercial and
administrative center of the city. The district has been affected by the recent
history of the country.
The area that surrounds the Neijmeh Square and the clock tower in the square is a testimony of the post-war reconstruction project. There are also ruins of a Roman Bath just a couple of blocks away. You can also see the scars of the civil war because the most the intense fighting happened at the head of Matryr’s square. There are redevelopment processes happening in the area to restore the area.
There are many
other things to do in Beirut that should be on your to-do list. Many of the
Lebanon attractions are in the city or just outside it, which makes it easy to
see the best of Lebanon during your visit.
