Destination attractions things to do in beirut

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

After surviving a fifteen-year civil war, Beirut has earned the right to call itself "the city that would not die." To prove this to themselves and to visitors, the city is undergoing numerous building projects and an expansion of the public service infrastructure. Whether looking for the historic or the modern, travelers to Beirut will certainly find many things to see and do.

Perhaps the citys main attraction, the Beirut Central District is an ambitious reconstruction and renewal project that aims to preserve the historic sites, restore residential sites, and build new business and leisure facilities. In addition to historical buildings, this district also contains several archaeological sites that were discovered during construction. These sites include a Hellenistic tower and wall, a Phoenician fortification, parts of a Crusader castle and the Ancient Tell with its segments of a Bronze Age city gate.

Also nearby are the remains of an open-air Roman bath and its intricate mosaic floors. Once a Roman colony, Beirut has several other surviving Roman structures including parts of the semi-circular cultural building called the Exedra, a group of five columns which were once part of the grand colonnade of Roman Berytus, and another set of columns that once formed part of the Roman basilica.

The National Museum houses many of the valuable archaeological artifacts that were unearthed during the construction in the Central District. For other artifacts from Lebanon and the Levant region, visit the Archaeology Museum at the American University of Beirut. This collection includes many examples of pottery, glassware and Phoenician figurines. The citys Sursock Museum is located in a historic nineteenth-century Italianate villa and has both temporary and permanent Turkish and Lebanese contemporary art exhibits. Children and adults alike will enjoy hands-on learning at Beiruts science museum, Planet Discovery.

Beirut also has a number of mosques and churches. Sometimes called the Grand Mosque, the The Al-Omari Mosque was originally a pagan temple which was later replaced by a church to Saint John the Baptist and then converted into a mosque in 1291. After being almost destroyed in the war, the Grand Mosque is now restored and once again serves as a place of worship. Another popular destination is the Emir Mansour Assaf Mosque. Though not open to the public, visitors to this seventeenth-century mosque will enjoy its historic architecture. Another church badly damaged during the war was St. George's Maronite Cathedral. Modeled after Romes Santa Maria Maggiore, it was built in the late 1800s and later restored and reconsecrated in 2000.

Located on the Mediterranean Sea, the Raouch is a delightful place for jogging and walking. The citys famous Pigeon Rocks stand just off the coast and the nearby shores have provided proof of some of the earliest human settlement in Beirut. Travelers may also enjoy walking further along Beiruts coastal road, the Corniche, to watch the sea, sample local food from a push-cart vendor, or just enjoy the sunset. Likewise, Luna Park provides a lovely spot for picturesque views of the sea.

Going underground, visitors may enjoy the charm and mystery of the Je?ta Grottoes. Unique in this region, the grottoes consist of two main galleries, the lower gallery which was accidentally discovered in 1836 and the upper gallery which was discovered in 1958. While enjoying a boat trip on the underground river, guests are treated to views of stalactites, stalagmites, and a variety of other naturally formed features.

Although Beirut went through a long period of upheaval and destruction, the "city that would not die" is living up to its nickname. With a number of restoration projects and new building endeavors, visitors are sure to find something of interest in Beirut.