Beirut Central District

[[Image:Downtownbeirut.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Nejmeh square is the heart of the Beirut City Center]] [[File:BeirutCentralDistrict.jpg|300px|thumb|[[Saifi Village|Saifi]] neighborhood in the BCD]] [[File:An der Küste Beirut center.jpg|300px|thumb|[[Rue Maarad]] is a main street in the central district]] [[File:Beirut Downtown Seafront F.jpg|thumb|300px|The Waterfront District in Downtown, [[Beirut]]]] The '''Beirut Central District''' ('''BCD''') or '''Centre Ville''' is the name given to [[Beirut]]’s historical and geographical [[central business district|core]], the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country.” At the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut Central District (BCD) is an area thousands of years old, traditionally a focus of business, finance, culture and leisure. Its reconstruction constitutes one of the most ambitious contemporary urban developments. It is situated on the city’s northern coast and is easily accessible from all parts of the city. This includes the adjacent [[port of beirut|Beirut Seaport]] and [[Rafik Hariri International Airport]]. Major roads converge on it or from boundaries to the east, south and west, or line its 1.5 km long seafront to the north. Due to the devastation incurred on the city center from the [[Lebanese Civil War]], the Beirut Central District underwent a thorough reconstruction and development plan that gave it back its cultural and economic position in the region. Ever since, Beirut Central District has evolved into an integrated business and commercial environment and the focus of the financial activity in the region. That evolution was accompanied with the relocation of international organizations, reoccupation of civic and government buildings, expansion of financial activities, and establishment of regional headquarters and global firms in the city center. ===Heritage Trail=== [[File:Roman baths beirut.jpg|thumb|Ruins in the Roman Baths Garden]] [[File:Hamidiyi_clock.jpg|thumb|The Hamidiyi Clock-tower]] The Heritage trail is a pedestrian circuit in the city's historic core and the traditional [[Beirut]] city center. The trail connects the main archaeological sites, places of historic interest, monuments and heritage buildings which are important to Beirut's rich past. The trail's path is marked by [[bronze]] medallions grouted into the sidewalk, with large general or district panels and smaller monument panels made from glazed [[lava stone]] tiles with texts in three languages ([[Arabic]], [[French Language |French]], [[English Language | English]]). The Heritage Trail is planned to start and end at the "City History Museum" on the ancient Tell Area. In an initial phase, pending the completion of the museum, the circuit will start at [[Beirut Souks]], which retain the 2500-years-old ancient street grid and [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] access gates, and several other archaeological remains like the [[Phoenicia]]n-[[Persian people|Persian]] quarter, [[Byzantine]] mosaics, old city wall and moat. The trail is divided into four major sections: *'''First Route''': The first route in the heritage trail covers the ancient archaeological "Tell Area". This site receives special treatment and lots of attention due to its significant historical importance, integrating several neighboring vestiges: preserved part of the [[Canaan]]ite wall and gate, Phoenician glacis, [[Hellenistic]] remains, [[crusader castle]] foundations above earlier [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] fortifications, and remains of the Ottoman citadel. The future site museum will display remains from the Tell area and other archaeological sites which are part of the heritage trail. A sinuous underground path guides visitors through Canaanite, Phoenician-[[Persian people|Persian]], [[Hellinistic]], Roman, [[Byzantine]] and [[Medieval ages]]. *'''Second Route''': This section of the Heritage Trail will straddle along several significant [[Beirut]] landmarks and buildings like the Town Hall, [[Lebanese Parliament| Parliament]], [[Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque]], [[Saint George Maronite Cathedral]], [[Garden of Forgiveness]]...etc. The route will also stroll along the arcaded streets of [[Rue Maarad|Maarad]] leading up to the Grand Theater historic building and numerous stone churches and [[Mamluk]]-era mosques. *'''Third Route''': This segment of the pedestrian circuit revolves largely around the "Roman Baths Garden" and the [[Grand Serail]]. The Roman Baths Garden at the base of the Serail Hill exhibits brick vaults, remains of ventilation networks, old water heating apparatuses, bathing areas among other archaeological remains from the bathhouse. The route also passes by terraced gardens, fountains, [[Olive]] and [[Pine]] groves, a small amphtheatre, leading all the way up to the hilltop where the route terminates at the [[Grand Serail]], Hamidiyi Clock-tower, Council of Reconstruction and Development, and the St. Louis Capuchin crusader church. *'''Fourth Route''': The fourth route in the Heritage trail lies substantially within the [[Beirut Souks]] area. This route contains the Phoenician-[[Persian people|Persian]] quarter, Roman-[[Byzantine]] findings, part of the [[Medieval]] moat and the Ottoman wharf. Some mosaics, remains, or arcades will be integrated into the new buildings. Other points of interest along the route are the "Zawiyat Ibin Iraq" shrine, Majidiyya Mosque, and the "Antoun Bey Caravanserai". Another section of the route displays a late Roman house with an internal garden paved with mosaics and an elaborate water and drainage system, Byzantine portico paved with mosaics and labeled shops, Phoenician storage jars, [[Mamluk]] potter kilns...etc. ===Shoreline Walk=== The "Shoreline Walk" is a sequence of connected spaces which form part of the reconstruction of the [[Beirut]] city centre. Following the 1975–91 [[Lebanese Civil War|Civil War]] in [[Lebanon]], the Beirut city centre was left devastated, [[Avenue des Français]] and the coastline had become a dumping ground, extending the land by more than 600m to the north. The city was once known for its rocky shoreline Cornice, with its avenues of palms and cafés but during the war a rubbish mountain grew from daily waste tipped into the Mediterranean Sea. Areas have been both preserved and demolished by the new master plan, whilst the remediated landfill is set to become a new district, projecting out into the sea. Rather than leave the old coastline land-locked and redundant, it was decided to create a pedestrian route that straddled the old and new city boundaries. The ‘Shoreline Walk’ is placed between the natural topography and rationalised medieval street layout of the old city, and the engineered grid of the new land-filled area. Research revealed the evolution of Beirut's coastline. The first [[Phoenicia]]n settlers arrived in 1220 BC, followed by [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] in 64 BC, [[Mamluks]] in 1291 AD, [[Ottomans]] in 1516 and the [[French Mandate of Lebanon|French]] in 1918. Successive civilisations adjusted the coastline to create [[harbor]]s that brought wealth to the city. Along the Shoreline Walk five squares provide areas to pause and relax: Harbour Square, All Saints Square, Shoreline Gardens, Zeytoune Square and Santiyeh Garden. Research into each space revealed remnants of the character of the pre-war city that had been forgotten or destroyed. Each "memory" generated the development of each square’s atmosphere, aligned with the facilities and functions required by a contemporary city to create a network of complimentary spaces. [[File:Beirut - Lebanon - Paris of the East! - November 2008 - Downtown Beirut is re-constructed mostly thanks to Rafik Hariri - The Paris of the East is back!.jpg|thumb|Roman Columns on the [[Garden of Forgiveness]] site]] ===Garden of Forgiveness=== {{Main|Garden of Forgiveness}} The [[Garden of Forgiveness]] is a project under development in the BCD. The garden is a socio-cultural project that commemorates the scars of the [[Lebanese Civil War]], hence its location along the [[Green Line (Lebanon)|Green Line]] that once divided the city between warring factions. Members from more than six religious denominationss have participated in the concept, plan, and development of the project. The garden's site is currently filled with uncovered ruins from over fifteen civilizations, most importantly the remains of the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] city of [[Berytus]]. The square is surrounded by three mosques ([[Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque]], Emir Assaf Mosque, Grand Omari Mosque) and three churches ([[Saint George Maronite Cathedral]], St. Elie Greek Melkite Catholic Cathedral, St. Georges Greek Orthodox Cathedral). The award-winning design was conceived by [[Kathryn Gustafson]], the acclaimed architect behind the [[Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain|Princess Diana Memorial Fountain]] in [[London]]. According to the designers, Lebanon's "will to become unified and prosperous" will be symbolized by selecting plants representing the regions of Lebanon, including [[Judas-tree|Judas trees]] from the mountains, [[olive]] groves from the agricultural plains, and [[citrus]] trees from the coast. The archaeological heritage of the site will be respected by referencing the [[Cardo]] (main north-south road) and [[Decumanus]] (main east-west road), to create strong linear axes. Traces of the ancient pathway will also be highlighted in the design, along with a 4000-year-old heart-shaped well that is believed to had been related to the goddess [[Astarte]]. A proposal was also made to add a [[9/11]] memorial for all the Lebanese victims that went down in the attack. ===St. Georges Cathedral Museum=== It is a [[crypt]] museum at the St. Georges Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Nejme Square. It is a relatively small museum that reveals layers of Christian heritage belonging to a series of seven churches built on the same exact site starting 2000 years ago. The current cathedral stands on layers of relics where at every stage of its existence its people attempted to enlarge and beautify it, adding more murals and icons. The museum is a crypt underneath the cathedral where [[oil lamps]], pipes, clay and [[terra cotta]] pots, miniature statues, and crosses found in various digs are displayed. Glass panels cover some of the crypt's relics and a glass partition separates the crypt from the church's altar directly above it. A narrow metal walkway leads visitors through the twelve stops of the crypt displaying tombstones, [[mosaics]], burial chambers, engravings on stones and columns, well-preserved skeletons, a covered canal, and part of an ancient paved road. The ruins and findings were excavated by Lebanese archaeologists before the cathedral underwent restoration; they aimed at locating the [[Byzantine church]] Anastasis, which according to ancient texts is believed to be near [[Beirut]]'s famous law school before it was leveled by the [[551 Beirut earthquake|551 A.D. earthquake]]. ===Planet Discovery=== Planet Discovery is the only permanent children's museum in [[Lebanon]]. It is located in Souk Ayyas in [[Beirut Souks]]. The museum was inaugurated in 1999 as a collaboration between [[Solidere]], [[Parc de la Villette]], and [[Palais de la Découverte]]. Relocated to [[Beirut Souks]] from Minet El-Hosn, the museum is home to a variety of exhibitions on science and technology offering hands-on-learning experiences for children of all ages. The museum focuses on a handful of themes like revisiting space up-close, exploring our body senses, learning about conception and reproduction, discovering physical phenomena...etc. The Museum also has a day care center, theatre performances and puppet shows, arts and crafts workshops, and science labs. [[File:Exterior of the Robert Mouawad Museum.jpg|thumb|Exterior of the Robert Mouawad Museum]] ===Robert Mouawad Private Museum=== The "Robert Mouawad Private Museum" is a private residence in the [[Wadi Abu Jamil]] quarter that was turned into a museum by the Lebanese businessman Robert Mouawad. The palace was built by the Lebanese politician and art collector [[Henri Philippe Pharaoun]] in 1911 in [[Beirut]]. The museum houses a combination of objects of great value reflecting a mix of artistic [[oriental]] and [[Western culture|occidental]] cultures, and a rare collection of books, [[Chinese porcelain]], [[ceramics]], and other significant objects. The palace's [[architecture]] and design reflects Pharaoun's infatuation with [[Islamic Art]] and decorative wooden panels that date back to the [[nineteenth century]], especially after his repetitive travels to [[Syria]]. Other displayed artifacts include [[Byzantine]] [[mosaics]], [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] [[marble]] [[sculptures]], jars and jugs, historical columns, [[pottery]], ancient weapons, unique carpets, sophisticated jewelry pieces, rare [[precious stones]], [[Greek Melkite Catholic Church|Melkite Catholic]] icons, and preserved [[manuscripts]]. ===Souk El Tayeb=== {{main|Souk el Tayeb}} [[Souk el Tayeb]] is an open-air weekly market held every Saturday at Trablos street in [[Beirut Souks]] (previously located in [[Saifi Village|Saifi]]). It began in its concept as an organic market, but soon changed to be a farmers’ market of fresh, local, and seasonal food products, that promotes small-scale farmers and producers. The market is organized and run by a non-profit cooperative organization headquartered on [[Rue Gouraud]]. The organization works on many levels nationally and internationally to promote and preserve Lebanese food and culinary traditions, rural heritage and natural environment. Souk el Tayeb has achieved over the years an innovative, environmentally sound, economically viable and socially responsive approach through supporting small-scale farmers and producers, contributing to local community development initiatives, carrying out advocacy, research, and education about food traditions and heritage, organic and healthy lifestyle, and creating a “platform” that brings together people of different regions, origins and beliefs around a shared goal. ===Conservatoire Libanais=== {{main|Conservatoire Libanais}} [[Conservatoire Libanais|Le Conservatoire libanais national supérieur de musique]], or the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music, was founded in the 1930s by Wadih Sabra, composer of the national anthem of Lebanon. The conservatory, which is headed by the well-known composer and conductor, Dr. [[Walid Gholmieh]], has more than 4,800 students taught by 250 professors. The conservatory is home to the [[Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra]]. Its main headquarters is on the Serail Hill in Downtown Beirut, directly facing the southern gate of the [[Grand Serail]]. ==Civic institutions== After the reconstruction, the city center regained its role as the focus of civic life in [[Lebanon]]. Several key institutions have relocated there including the [[Lebanese Parliament|Parliament]] and its related offices, the Government's headquarters, and the Beirut Municipality. The BCD also has a dense concentration of public agencies, important ministries, and governmental offices, some of which are:[[File:Parliament Beirut.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Lebanese Parliament]] *Ministry of Culture and Higher Education *Ministry of the Displaced *Lebanese Customs *Investment Development Authority (IDAL) *National Economic and Social Council *Council of Reconstruction and Development (CDR) *Ministry of Finance *Ministry of Transportation *National Statistics Bureau *Post and Telecommunications *Ministry of State of Administrative Reform *Public Audit Court [[File:Beirut city hall.jpg|thumb|300px|Facade of the Beirut City Hall]] ===Beirut Municipality=== Dating back to 1934, the Beirut Municipality building has slowly become an architectural landmark in the Downtown area. The building is located on the intersection of [[Ferdinand Foch|Foch]] Street and [[Rue Weygand]] in the city center. The building is in the [[Venetian Gothic architecture|Venetian]]/[[Arab Architecture|Arabesque]] architectural style, a mix that expresses the regional identity of the area. The building has been restored after the [[Lebanese Civil War]] and it currently houses the office of the Governor of Beirut, and the municipal council. It is open to the public and for official registration of documents. [[File:Serail Hill.jpg|thumb|The Grand Serial on the top the Serial Hill]] ===The Grand Serail=== {{Main|Grand Serail}} Built in 1953 as an army barracks atop a hill in central [[Beirut]], the Grand Serail currently hosts the office of the [[Prime Minister of Lebanon]]. The Grand Serail is a historic building, the most important of three Ottoman monuments on the Serail hill. The other two are the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the Hamidiyyeh clock tower. The Grand Serail followed the architectural design epitomizing the new Ottoman military organization. The building was severely damaged in the events of the [[Lebanese Civil War]]; its reconstruction took 900 work days and was completed in 1998. The Serail covers 39,700 square meters of floor space. The Grand Serail's four wings are disposed around a large courtyard which flanked at the center by a limestone and Carrera marble fountain. Both the exterior and interior facades are covered by a total of 588 arches and arcades. The two upper floors comprise the Prime Minister's residence and office, offices for his staff, as well as the cabinet room and ministers' offices. The ground floor consists of a banquet hall, two receptions areas, a press room and a courtyard. Finally, an underground level includes a car-park, offices and rooms for the personnel. In all the Grand Serail includes 430 rooms and chambers in addition to the quarters for the maintenance and other service rooms. ==Squares and public spaces== [[File:Centralbeirut.jpg|thumb|A pedestrian street in the Beirut city center]] The Beirut Central District contains over 60 gardens, squares and open spaces. These spaces comprise landscaped streets, gardens, historical squares, pedestrian areas and sea promenades thus totaling to an area of 96 acres of open spaces. This makes the BCD home to 50% of the entire public spaces in Beirut, despite the fact that the BCD itself is only 10% of [[Beirut|Beirut City]]. These public spaces gradually developed into a thriving social scene for the Beirut residents, thanks in part to the city's mild weather. City officials have imposed several plans to attract the urban users and the nature lovers to Beirut's squares and spaces. One of the plans is a "temporary uses" policy focused on a rambla pedestrian spine that links the existing city center and [[Beirut Souks]] northwards to the terraced corniche and promenade. The spine is now open for jogging and cycling, with surrounding roads being closed off to traffic on the weekends. They also include street markets and festivals, health and environment awareness campaigns, cat walks and dog shows. ===Rafik Hariri Sculptural Garden=== Rafik Hariri Sculptural Garden is a landscaped design garden on the southern slope of the [[Grand Serail|Serail Hill]]. The garden was originally designed by Vladimir Djurovic in basalt stone; the project was completed in 2009 and is currently being upgraded. The garden was conceptualized in a cascading manner as to cope with the sloping nature of the area's topography. The Russian sculptor Maguerditch Mazmanian presented a statue of the late [[Lebanese Prime Minister]] [[Rafik Hariri]] depicting him as if walking through the garden. Elongated planes of gray stone and water mirrors, laid on a grass surface, step down towards the city. A row of [[Jacaranda]] trees marks the edge between the steps and the [[Grand Serail]]’s façade. ===Khalil Gibran Garden=== This popular Beirut destination was named after the famous Lebanese-American Poet [[Khalil Gibran]]. With an area of 6000 square meters, this garden was landscaped to emphasize its status as a main entrance to the city center. Its landscaped design consists of two circular lawns looking out into the garden and the UN House. Trees surround a blue water fountain and a brick-tiled platform, with six obelisks marking the gates of the garden. Several sculptures of abstract art inspired by Khalil Gibran dot the location. The space also witnessed numerous political protests in the past years adding to the venue's strategic importance. It also hosts, since 2005, a permanent sit-in tent for the demand of the release of Lebanese prisoners in [[Syria]]. [[Image:Nejmehsquare.jpg|thumb|Nejmeh Square in Beirut Central District]] ===Nejme Square=== Nejme Sqaure, or Place D'Etoile, is the central square in the Downtown area. It is home to the [[Parliament of Lebanon|Lebanese Parliament]] and its complementary buildings, two cathedrals, a museum, and several cafes and restaurants. Most notable for its [[Art Deco]] architecture, the square has become a recognizable icon of [[Beirut|Beirut City]] worldwide. The jewel of the square is a 1930s clock-tower with its four-faced [[Rolex]] clock. The clock tower was gift from Lebanese-Brazilian émigré Michel Abed. Today, the square is filled with tourists and locals who come here to dine, walk or enjoy the street life. The square is also known for its noticeable population of pigeons. ===Waterside Park=== An ambitious future project, this park will be the largest park in the city of Beirut once completed. 78,000 square meters of green space will comprise this park and help transform it into a recreational attraction for the city and its metropolitan area. It will host a public performance space, an open-air amphitheater, retail kiosks, a main entrance pavilion, and will be directly connected to the Sea Corniche. The original plans for the park included a prepared strip along its northwestern edge designed to accommodate the Formula One pits, and other temporary Formula One facilities during Grand Prix events. However, plans for the future Formula One circuit have been abandoned due to excessive demands from the Formula One Committee. [[File:Roman baths 5.jpg|thumb|The Roman Baths Garden]] ===Roman Baths=== The "Roman Baths" is a landscaped public space that lies on the eastern slope of the [[Grand Serail|Serail Hill]]. It consists of a garden and a set of uncovered ruins of ancient [[Thermae|Roman baths]], hence the name of the place. The space contains elevated terraces that attempt to revive sights of ancient [[Mediterranean]] gardens. During the tourism season, the place hosts several open-air concerts and plays. Both tourists and locals are drawn to the popular international concerts that the place hosts as part of the [[World Music Day]]. ===Sea Corniche=== Once the [[Zaitounay Bay]], the Corniche promenade, the Eastern Marina, and the [[Port of Beirut|Beirut Port]] First Basin promenade are completed, the city center will provide an uninterrupted 3.5 km [[corniche]] along Beirut's shoreline. This new addition will be four times the area of the existing [[Corniche Beirut]]. The new Sea Corniche will consist of a three-decked promenade, and will be more than 1.3 km long and between 110 to 45 meters in width. The master-plan for the Corniche intends to transform it into a socially active pedestrian arena with distributed "activity spots" for sports, recreation and children activities. ===Citadel Square=== Situated in the [[central business district]] of [[Beirut]], "Citadel Square" is a public [[plaza]] adjacent to the oldest archeological site in the city, the "Tell Area". The site, which includes findings that are over 6,000 years old, is the location of the ancient city of [[Berytus]], the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] origins of modern day [[Beirut]]. The design of the square was conceived by the [[Boston]]-based architecture and urban design firm [[Machado and Silvetti Associates|Machado and Silvetti]] in 2005. The centerpiece of the square is the "Beirut Citadel" which, although significantly reduced in size, still houses visible ruins including portions of a [[medieval castle]] and an [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] barrack. Water features and fountains were created on either side of the citadel to highlight the locations of both the ancient harbor and the medieval [[moat]]. [[File:Imam Ouzai Square.jpg|thumb|Imam Ouzai Square]] ===Imam Ouzai Square=== The Imam Ouzai Square is part of the [[Beirut Souks]] project in the BCD. The square marks the main entrance to the souks from [[Rue Weygand]]. The square's floor is tiled with black marble stone, and it hosts an old [[olive]] tree in its center. Architecturally speaking, the design of the square integrates several features from its old heritage as well as several elements of modernity. A [[cupola]]-topped prayer hall to the left creates a virtual entrance to the square by mirroring a [[Mamluk]]-era shrine on the right. The square offers passages to Souk Tawileh, Souk Sayyour, and the Gold Souks. ===Zeytouneh Square=== Situated at the southernmost point of the Shoreline Walk, Zeytouneh Square forms a key link connecting the different sectors of the central district. Designed by Gustafson-Porter, the company of renowned American [[landscape architect]] and [[artist]] [[Kathryn Gustafson]], the 600-sq-meters square was inaugurated in 2011, after eight years of designing, planning and construction works. Described by the square's architects as a "celebration of modern [[Beirut]] and place for cultural events", the square's terraces were made to utilize the existing slope to provide an informal amphitheater space from which concerts, festivals and films can be viewed. The surface of the Zeytouneh Square extends across the roads to the surrounding buildings, unifying the square as one large space. The bold paving patterns were inspired from the Black and White patterning found in traditional Lebanese houses, with the paving stripes changing with the topography of the landscape. Provided with free wireless internet access, the square's design was complemented with stone benches and [[Albizia]] trees, to gradually help the square become a popular hangout place. [[File:Solidare, Beirut.jpg|thumb|[[Samir Kassir]] Garden]] ===Samir Kassir Square=== A square on [[Rue Weygand]] street in the Beirut Central District commemorating the late journalist and political activist [[Samir Kassir]]. The square is located behind the [[An-Nahar]] building, the renowned newspaper headquarters where Kassir used to work. The garden boasts a bronze statue of Kassir done by the French sculptor Louis Debre. Two historic [[ficus]] trees provide shade at the centre of the space, and a [[reflecting pool]] with water cascading over its edges marks the border with the street. The pool is flanked by a rectangular [[timber]] deck that encircles the two trees, and has at its western side a long bench of solid stone. The edges of the site have a ground cover of dwarf Natal plum ([[carissa macrocarpa]]), a water-conserving plant known for its dark evergreen leaves and its white, star-shaped flowers and red berries which grow throughout the year. In 2007, the garden won the [[Aga Khan Award for Architecture]], an architectural prize affiliated with [[landscape design]], area [[Conservation-restoration|conservation]], and [[community development]] and improvement. ===Martyrs' Square=== {{main|Martyrs' Square, Beirut}} [[File:Ye old opera house..jpg|thumb|The "Old Opera House" on Martyrs' Square]] Synonymous with Lebanon's [[History of Lebanon under Ottoman rule|modern history]], Martyrs' Square is a central, and biggest, [[town square]] in [[Beirut]] and its central district. Initially named "Place des Canons", or "Cannons Square", it was built by the [[Ottomans]] during their occupation of [[Lebanon]] in the [[nineteenth century]]. During [[World War I]], Beirut suffered from a [[blockade]] by the [[allies]] which was intended to starve the [[Turks]] out; however, the result was a famine that killed a quarter of Lebanon's population. An unsuccessful revolt against the Turks broke out which resulted in the execution of Lebanese nationalists in the square on 19 May 1916, hence bestowing upon it its current name, "Martyrs' Square". The Square was completely destroyed in the [[Lebanese Civil War]], and reconstruction began in the early nineties. The "Martyrs' Statue", the iconic bullet-riddled centerpiece of the square, was maintained and restored alongside the old [[opera house]]. After the assassination of Prime Minister [[Rafik Hariri]], the square regained its original role as the "throbbing heart of the political life in Lebanon". The Square became [[ground zero]] for the political [[sit-ins]], demonstrations, and protests of the [[Cedar Revolution]] in 2005. [[Solidere]] recently commissioned the re-designing and landscaping of the square, after an international urban design competition for the Martyrs' Square axis was conducted. ===Khan Antoun Bey Square=== "Khan Antoun Bey Square" is an under-construction project located in the northern section of the [[Beirut Souks]]. The [[Portugal|Portuguese]] landscaping studio PROAP were selected as winners of the architectural landscaping contest, and were hence commissioned by [[Solidere]] to design the square. The square's master-plan addresses the site's [[history]], location and surroundings, to develop its area as a link between the traditional city center and the newly-constructed waterfront district. Once completed, the "Khan Antoun Bey Square" will be a major public [[plaza]] where pedestrian routes from the BCD converge. The square is divided into two main areas, a lower plaza and a higher circulation plaza. The transition between the two levels occurs through a pedestrian lane shaping a natural amphitheater and event seating area. Historically, this area used to be a [[loading dock]] connecting the [[harbor]] with the [[souqs]]. The square will pay tribute to this by including water features, re-installing the original harbor wall, and consolidating the remains of the ancient city wall with the square's design. [[File:Rafic Hariri beirut 1.jpg|thumb|[[Rafik Hariri]] Memorial Garden]] ===Rafik Hariri Memorial Garden=== The "Rafik Hariri Memorial Garden" is a [[public space]] in the [[Saint George Bay]] neighborhood facing the [[InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut Hotel]]. The garden pays tribute to the former [[Lebanese Prime Minister]] [[Rafik Hariri]] and the other 22 victims who died in the massive [[car bomb]] attack on 14 February 2005 on the same exact site. The garden's construction was completed in two and half months's and it was inaugurated on the third anniversary of the [[assassination of Rafic Hariri]] in 2008. The memorial is a 700-square-meter replica of the garden of the Hariri family residence in Qoreitem, with water flowing from the edges of the site and a 6-meter bronze statue of the late premier on top. A bronze pole with a clock and inscriptions of verses from the [[Lebanese National Anthem]] stands near Hariri's statue, and each day at 12:55 p.m. - the time of Hariri's killing - the clock emits the sounds of [[church bells]] and the Islamic call to prayer for five minutes. In the same five minutes, a flame also rises from a 4-meter statue in the garden in the middle of five bronze Lebanese flags. ==Neighborhoods== [[File:Downtown Beirut.jpg|thumb|[[Ferdinand Foch|Foch]]-[[Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby|Allenby]] neighborhood]] [[Image:Ceirut Central District wady.jpg|right|thumb|Typical Lebanese houses in the Wadi Abu Jamil neighborhood]] *[[Saint George Bay]]: The neighborhood along the northern shoreline of the [[Beirut]] city center. It is home to the [[Corniche Beirut]], a marina, and the future seaside park. The St. George bay neighborhood is an important tourist district in Beirut, as it hosts several hotels and entertainment facilities like the [[InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut Hotel]], [[Music Hall (Beirut)|Music Hall]], [[Hard Rock Cafe]]...etc. *[[Ferdinand Foch|Foch]]-[[Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby|Allenby]]: The Foch-Allenby district is an early 20th century European-style precinct in Downtown Beirut. The neighborhood is home to numerous old churches and mosques, and was the first office building sector in the city, dating back to the 1920s. The area is rich in business, banks, professional services, shops, fashion boutiques, department stores, art and handicrafts galleries, as well as restaurants and side-walk cafes. *[[Grand Serail|Serail Hill]]: The Serail Hill neighborhood is situated on an elevated portion of the Beirut Central District. It is mainly home to the [[Grand Serail]], the Ottoman Clock Tower, the Council for Reconstruction and Development, the [[Conservatoire Libanais]], the Roman Baths Garden, and the Rafik Hariri Sculptural Garden. *Nejmeh Square-[[Rue Maarad]] Area: This area is most notable for its stone elevations, retained buildings, and preserved facades. This area in its current structure and form dates back to the 1930s, and was inspired by the [[Place de l'Étoile]] in [[Paris]]. The district is home to the [[Lebanese Parliament]] and its complementary buildings, several cathedrals and mosques, and a large array of side-walk cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs. All buildings are aligned along the area's radial and arcaded streets. *[[Saifi Village]]: Located at the southeastern periphery of Downtown Beirut, Saifi Village is composed of 16 buildings organized in four clusters. This precinct is a primarily residential area and is characterized with brick-paved streets, children's playgrounds, seasonal gardens, public squares and fountains, a nursery school, and a private clinics center. Saifi is the art hub of Beirut and is vibrant with activities in its designers' and art galleries, antiques and artisan shops, delicatessen stores, decorative art and beauty specialist boutiques. *[[Beirut Souks]]: The Souks district is a mega-shopping strip in the Beirut Central District. It is a reconstructed medieval market consisting of a complex network of alleys and pathways. The old souks were severely damaged during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] and were reconstructed by the Lebanese real estate company [[Solidere]]. The souks are home to more than 200 shops, a department store, and a handful of cafes and restaurants. The souks offer grounds regularly to concerts and open-air shows in the city center. *[[Wadi Abu Jamil]]: Beirut's old Jewish quarter and the center of a formerly-thriving [[History of the Jews in Lebanon|Lebanese-Jewish]] community. The neighborhood is located on elevated grounds in the city center, gently sloping towards the [[Mediterranean]]. Largely resembling a [[Levant]]ine hill town, the neighborhood is filled with clusters of stone buildings with [[terracotta]]-tiled pitched roofs and distinct Lebanese-style [[verandah]]s. ==Religious buildings== [[File:ChurchMosque.jpg|thumb|[[Saint George Maronite Cathedral]] and [[Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque]] sit side by side in Beirut's central district]] The Beirut City Center is one of the most religiously diverse areas in the world. Mosques and churches lie side by side on the BCD's streets. Several of these churches and mosques are hundreds of years old and are of high archaeological significance. In total, the BCD is home to ten churches, six mosques, and one synagogue located in the [[Wadi Abu Jamil]] neighborhood. Despite the severe destruction incurred on these buildings during the [[Lebanese Civil War|Civil War]], they have been restored to their prior shape and are all currently in use. During religious holidays and occasions, the churches and mosques host social gatherings, charity events, religious competitions, chorus recitals of religious verses, and mass prayers attended by [[Lebanon]]'s top political figures. ===Saint George Maronite Cathedral=== {{Main|Saint George Maronite Cathedral}} The [[Saint George Maronite Cathedral]] is a is the cathedral of the [[Maronite]] Archdiocese in [[Beirut]]. After ten years of works started by Monsignor Joseph Debs, the construction of the cathedral was finished in 1894. The church's facade, interior and plan were inspired from the [[Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore]] in the city of [[Rome]]. The walls of the church are decorated with stucco and marble. The armchair that [[Pope John Paul II]] used during his visit to Lebanon in May 1997 has been preserved in the cathedral's [[Retroquire]]. [[File:Mohammed al-Amin Mosque.jpg|thumb|The interior of Mohammad Al Amin Mosque.]] ===Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque=== {{Main|Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque}} The [[Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque]] is a [[Sunni]] Muslim mosque located on Beirut's [[Martyrs' Square, Beirut|Martyrs' Square]]. It is most known for being the backdrop of the [[Cedar Revolution]] events in 2005. Inspired by the [[Sultan Ahmed Mosque]] in [[Istanbul]], this mosque follows the ottoman architectural style with touches and illustrations in the [[Mamluk]]\Egyptian style. It is most recognizable for its yellow ochre stone exterior, giant blue domes, and 72-meter-high [[Mecca]]-styled [[minaret]]s. Construction began in 2002 by the late Prime Minister [[Rafik Hariri]], and was finished in 2007. His son [[Saad Hariri]] inaugurated the mosque in a huge celebration on October 17, 2008. It is the central mosque for the [[Sunni Muslim]] denomination in Lebanon. ===St. Georges Greek Orthodox Cathedral=== [[File:St. George's Greek-Orthodox Cathedral (Beirut).JPG|thumb|The St. Georges Cathedral on Nejme Sqaure]] The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Georges is located directly on Nejme Square and is the oldest [[Eastern Orthodox Church|orthodox]] church in [[Beirut]]. Its location is believed to be directly adjacent to the site of the renowned Roman Law School of Beirut. The church underwent several restorations in its history due to natural disasters, erosion, and intentional destruction. During the [[Lebanese Civil War]], the church was burned and destroyed with most of its belongings stolen. The Greek Orthodox Archbishopric of Beirut began its renovation on October 16, 1995. The excavation at the site led to the discovery of the remains of three other churches and part of the Roman [[colonnade]]s. These artifacts were incorporated into an underground museum directly located below the cathedral. ===Grand Omari Mosque=== [[File:3omarimosque.jpg|thumb|The Grand Omari Mosque]] Before being eclipsed by [[Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque]], this initially used to be the central mosque of [[Beirut]]. Named in honor of [[Umar ibn al-Khattab]], this mosque was initially a [[Crusades|Crusader]] church, that by its turn used to be a [[paganism|pagan]] temple. Occupied and reoccupied again and again by warring factions during the [[Crusades]] era, this mosque eventually rested in the hands of the Muslims in 1291. During the reconstruction of the Beirut Central District, the mosque was renovated and enlarged to its current area. ===St. Nishan Armenian Orthodox Church=== [[File:Sourp Nshan Church in downtown Beirut.JPG|thumb|The Armenian Orthodox Church of St. Nishan]] This is the only church dedicated for the [[Armenian Orthodox Church]] in the Beirut Central District. It is constructed directly on the [[Grand Serail|Serail Hill]] facing the Serail and the [[Conservatoire Libanais]]. It is named after its patron saint, [[Saint Nishan|Nishan]], who was a member of the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] and lived in the 10th century. The church's exterior is covered with white limestone tiles, while its roof is covered with red bricks and a grey lead dome. ===St. Elie Armenian Catholic Cathedral=== [[File:Christian Church.jpg|thumb|The Catholic Armenian church of St. Elie]] The first [[Armenian Catholic]] cathedral to be constructed in [[Beirut]], its construction began with the Armenian Catholic Archbishop in 1860. It was severely damaged during the civil war, due to its location directly along the [[Green Line (Lebanon)|Green Line]]. The Archbishopric took control of it in the early 1990s and began restoration works. The church was destroyed several times in history, most notably when it was torn down to be expanded in 1901 and for the construction of the Saints' Convent in 1950. ===Amir Assaf Mosque=== The Amir Assaf Mosque is located on [[Rue Weygand|Weygand]] Street in the central district of [[Beirut]], near the eastern side of Al-Omari Great Mosque and facing the southeastern angle of the Municipal Palace and [[Samir Kassir]] Garden. It was built by Emir Mansour Assaf between 1572 and 1580 on the site of the [[Byzantine]] Church of the Holy Savior. It is also called "Bab Al-Saray Mosque" meaning "Door of the Great Serial". Scholars disagree regarding the reason for the mosque's second name, some say it is referring to the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[Grand Serail]] while others insist that it's referring to "Dar Al-Wilaya", an ancient government serail near the mosque that was built by Prince [[Fakhr-al-Din II]], governor of [[Beirut]] and [[Mount Lebanon]]. ===Emir Munzer Mosque=== Named after the Prince Munzer Bin Suleiman, this mosque is also called the "Nafoura" (which means Fountain) due to the presence of an ancient fountain in its courtyard. The mosque was completed in 1620 during the reign of [[Fakhr-al-Din II]], the Prince of [[Mount Lebanon]]. The mosque contains six Roman columns in its center. ===Saint Elias Greek Catholic Cathedral=== The Saint Elias Cathedral is located along Nejme Square in the [[Beirut]] Central District, and is affiliated with the [[Greek Melkite Catholic Church]] in [[Lebanon]]. At the time of its completion in 1863, the cathedral was perceived as a remarkable place due to its [[Byzantine architecture]] and beautiful [[oriental]] decoration. The cathedral is famous for its notable [[Neoclassical architecture|neo-classical]] interior design, its marble [[iconostasis]], the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] arcs, and the celestial [[oculi]]. The cathedral was restored by the Archdiocese in 1994, after the damages caused by the war. The restoration works began at the end of 2003 and ended in may 2006. ===National Evangelical Church=== The National Evangelical Church of Beirut is the first native [[Arabic]] [[Protestant]] congregation of the [[Middle East]]. Established in downtown [[Beirut]] in 1848 by Congregational and Presbyterian American missionaries, it is the oldest and biggest of nine congregations in [[Lebanon]]. During the [[Lebanese Civil War]] (1975-1990), the church was completely destroyed, except for the bell-tower, and the congregation consequently dispersed. Since its reconstruction in 1998, the National Evangelical Church of Beirut started re-gathering its parishioners in its fold, and holding regular prayer services and organizing socio-cultural activities. Residing directly adjacent to the [[Grand Serail]], the architecture of this church is [[gothic architecture|gothic]] and [[oriental]] with a red-brick roof. ===Saint Louis Capuchin Church=== The Saint Louis Capuchin Church is a [[Latin Catholic]] church in downtown [[Beirut]], located to the north of the [[Grand Serail]] and Council of Reconstruction and Development. Built in 1864 by the Capuchin missionaries and named it in the honor of King [[Louis IX of France]]. The church was the first landmark structure to be renovated and opened in [[Beirut]] after the end of the [[Lebanese Civil War]]. The church is highly noticeable for its sand-stone facades, rose-colored wooden windows, and its new towering white-[[limestone]] [[campanile]]. ==International and foreign institutions== The Beirut Central District has become the heart of diplomatic life in [[Lebanon]] due to the secure environment, high-tech amenities, and modern services that it enjoys. Benefiting from the geographic location of the city center and the proximity to official and business institutions, Downtown [[Beirut]] has become the center for many international institutions, business and cultural delegations, and foreign embassies. As such, several countries have become officially represented in the city center through embassies, business and cultural cooperation agencies, humanitarian NGOs, and consulates. Some of these are: [[File:UNbeirut.jpg|thumb|300px|right|UN House which hosts United Nations headquarters]] *American-Lebanese Chamber of Commerce *Embassy of [[Belgium]] *Embassy of [[Italy]] *Consulate of [[Belize]] *[[Instituto Cervantes]] *Arab Cultural Foundation *Lebanese-German Business Council *[[Amideast]] Cultural Cooperation agency * Consulate of [[Turkey]] *Embassy of [[Japan]] *Embassy of [[United Kingdom|Britain]] *Embassy of [[Argentina]] *Consulate of [[Gambia]] *Embassy of [[Australia]] ===UN House=== Since its inauguration by UN Secretary General [[Kofi Annan]] in 1997, the UN House has become the focal point of the diplomatic activity in Lebanon. Best known for being the headquarters of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia ([[ESCWA]]), UN House also hosts several UN regional and local headquarters including the [[World Bank]]'s permanent [[Beirut]] office. It comprises 43,000 square meters of floor space including offices, a library, language lab facilities, a conference center, storage, parking and retail space. The UN House hosts important conferences throughout the year. ==Shopping and dinning== [[File:Chanel beirut.jpg|thumb|left|190|[[Chanel]] store in the BCD]] [[Image:Beirut - Lebanon - The Paris of the East! - November 2008 - Downtown Beirut is re-constructed mostly thanks to Rafik Hariri - The Paris of the East is back!.jpg|thumb|190px|Sidewalk Cafes are a trademark of the BCD|right]] The city center houses more than 350 retail outlets distributed along its streets and quarters. Shopping in the city center mainly consists of upscale fashion boutique chains, world-renowned designer shops, high-end stores,and luxury boutiques boasting the most expensive designer labels. Stores sell fashion clothing, accessories, jewelry, furniture, Hi-Fi and electronic equipment, records and books, handicrafts and gifts, art and antiques. The stores lie mostly along the street level, but some started to gain higher floors. Buildings or group of buildings are dedicated to department stores. Starting from the conservation area, stores are spreading to other areas to finally culminate in the [[Beirut Souks]]. There are over 100 cafes, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs open in the Beirut Central District. Restaurants offer a variety of French, Italian, American, Lebanese, Chinese, Japanese and other Asian cuisines. Sidewalk cafes are a trademark of the Downtown area, with tens of them lining the street side. They range from oriental cafes serving [[Turkish Coffee]] and [[Hookah|Shisha]] to global franchises to the likes of [[Starbucks]]. ===Beirut Souks=== [[File:Souk Tawileh.jpg|thumb|250px|Souk Tawileh]] {{Main|Beirut Souks}} The [[Beirut Souks]] is a mega-shopping district in Downtown Beirut. It is home to more than 200 shops and a department store, thus making it Beirut's biggest shopping strip. The souks project is a reconstruction of the old medieval market, after it sustained irreparable damage from the [[Lebanese Civil War]]. In 1994, the [[Lebanese Parliament]] approved a master-plan conceived by Lebanese architect Jad Tabet, and construction was taken on by the real estate company [[Solidere]]. Solidere sought to bring back the souks' historic commercial function at the heart of Beirut and appeal to the mercantile community that had fled during the war, while still preserving the original Hellenistic street grid that characterized the old souks and the area's historical landmarks. The souks were designed as interconnected open spaces with many access points along long vaulted shopping alleys and arcades. The Beirut Souks have retained their historical names: Souk al Tawila (the long souk), Souk Arwam, Souk Jamil, Souk Ayyass, Souk Sayyour, Souk Bustros and Souk Arwad. Some of the stores in the souks are [[Cartier SA|Cartier]], [[Gucci]], [[Burberry]], [[Fendi]], [[Zara (retailer)|Zara]], Mark Jacobs, [[Dolce & Gabbana]], [[Dior]], [[Massimo Dutti]], [[Mango (clothing)|Mango]], [[Bottega Veneta]], [[The Timberland Company|Timberland]], [[Yves Saint Laurent (brand)|Yves Saint Laurent]], [[Bershka]], [[Roberto Cavalli]], Springfield, Chloe, [[Jimmy Choo]], [[Jack & Jones]], [[Stella McCartney]], [[Celine (brand)|Celine]], [[Louis Vuitton]], [[Vero Moda]], and [[Pull and Bear]]. ==Art and music== [[Image:saifivillage.JPG|thumb|right|The Quartier des Arts at the [[Saifi Village]]]] [[Image:Beirut MusicHall performance.jpg|right|thumb|A live performance at the [[Music Hall (Beirut)|Music Hall]]]] Beirut is the center of the entertainment business and art scene in the region. A thriving artistic center, Beirut has become a new regional hub for exhibitions, art galleries, and music performances. Local, regional and international exhibitions are regularly organized around the quarters of the city center. Those exhibitions cover a varied array of topics spanning sculptures, paintings, architecture and urban planning, manuscripts and archives, photography, handicrafts, and various other technical, commercial, industrial, and scientific themes. Venues that host these exhibitions range from historic buildings, cultural centers, media headquarters, bookstores and cafes to wholly dedicated exhibition centers and specialized display galleries. Also, open spaces often host numerous temporary art galleries and public shows. [[Beirut Souks]], specifically Ajami Square and Trablous Street, have become a favorable location for street shows, exhibitions and concerts like the 2011 [[Miss Lebanon|Miss Lebanon Pageant]]. [[ Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure Center]] (commonly BIEL) is a dedicated fair ground, constituting 15000 sq meters of display floor, that hosts diversely-themed exhibitions. [[Saifi Village]] is Beirut's "Quartier des Arts" or "Arts Quarter", hosting year-round events in its vibrant cluster of art galleries and artisan shops. Concerts and musical performances can be attended in churches or historic buildings, in open spaces, and in private venues like the [[Music Hall (Beirut)|Music Hall]].
During the summer season, the new waterfront in the Beirut Central District becomes a gigantic concert arena that hosts world-class performers and shows. The list of performers at the new waterfront district includes [[David Guetta]], [[Shakira]], [[30 Seconds to Mars]], [[Flo Rida]], [[James Blunt]], [[Marcel Khalife]], [[Kesha]], [[Alexandra Stan]], [[Sean Kingston]], [[Iyaz]], [[T-Pain]], [[Warda Al-Jazairia]], [[Akon]], [[Lil Wayne]], [[Inna]], [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[ Phil Collins]], [[50 Cent]], [[ Majida El Roumi]], [[Ricky Martin]], [[Mika (singer)|Mika]], [[Tiësto]], [[The Pussycat Dolls]], [[Snoop Dogg]], [[Michael Bolton]], [[Armin Van Buuren]], [[Shaggy (musician)|Shaggy]], [[Kelly Rowland]], [[Fairuz]], [[Sean Paul]], [[Taio Cruz]], [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]] ...etc. [[File:Banadoura.jpeg|thumb|Youths gather at an open-air concert in the BCD]] [[File:Majida El Roumi.jpg|thumb|[[Majida El Roumi]] performs in a festival in [[Martyrs' Square, Beirut|Martyrs' Square]]]] ===Beirut Music and Art Festival=== 2011 witnessed the launching of the Beirut Music and Art Festival, an annual event to take place at [[Beirut Souks]]. The organizers of the event described it as "a vision that looks to fulfill [[Beirut]]’s role as cultural capital of the Middle East". The aim for this festival is to promote and strengthen the cultural scene in [[Lebanon]] and the [[Middle East]], by proposing a combination of local musicians, world-class performers and art in all its forms. The artists' and singers' performances were divided along two stages: The Grand Stand venue and The Music village venue. The list of performers in the festival's first year included [[Al Di Meola]], [[Earth, Wind & Fire]], [[Goran Bregovic]], [[Ilham al-Madfai]], [[Marcel Khalife]], [[Natacha Atlas]], [[Roger Hodgson]] and many more. ===Beirut Jazz Festival=== The Beirut Jazz Festival is an annual music festival and celebration that runs for almost ten days each year. The festival was launched in 2007 in downtown [[Beirut]] by [[Solidere]], the real estate company behind the re-development of the Beirut Central District. The festival has taken place in different venues each year, most recently on Ajami Square in the [[Beirut Souks]]. According to the festival's organizers, the Beirut Jazz Festival doesn't limit itself exclusively to classical [[Jazz]] music but "integrates folkloric [[Arabic Music]] into western improvisational musical ideas whilst experimenting with traditional music genres from diverse parts of the world". Some of the jazz artists who have taken part in the festival recently are [[Rabih Abou-Khalil]], [[Charbel Rouhana]], [[Marcus Miller]], [[Patti Austin]], [[Randy Crawford]], [[Joe Sample]], and several others. ===Fête de la Musique=== {{Main|Fête de la Musique}} Initiated in [[Paris]] in 1982, The Fête de la Musique, or World Music Day, has evolved into an international music festival that is celebrated worldwide, and in the [[Middle East]] only [[Jordan]], [[Morocco]], and [[Algeria]] celebrate it next to [[Lebanon]]. It is an all-night music celebration held at the moment of the summer solstice, and consists of free concerts by amateur and professional musicians and are accessible to all the public. It takes place in various venues in the Beirut Central District (mainly [[Martyrs' Square, Beirut|Martyrs' Square]], Roman Baths Garden, and [[Samir Kassir]] Square) or outside of the district ([[Rue Hamra]] and [[Rue Gouraud]]). "Time Out Beirut" magazine described the festival saying that "it encourages people to see great free music and break down the barriers between the streets and the players, it’s a democratising evening of musical discovery". ===Beirut Celebrates=== "Beirut Celebrates" is the name of the annual [[Christmas]] and [[New Year's Eve]] festivities in the [[Beirut]] Central District. Under the patronage of the [[Prime Minister of Lebanon]] and the Lebanese Ministry of Culture, [[Solidere]], the Lebanese Company for the Development and Reconstruction of Beirut, organizes a series of events on the occasion of the end of the year festivities. The downtown area witnesses a giant [[Santa Claus parade|Christmas Parade]] that straddles along [[Martyrs' Square, Beirut|Martyrs' Square]], [[Allenby]] Street, and [[Beirut Souks]]; and the inauguration of the " Santa's Village", a [[Christmas market]] in [[Saifi Village]]. Other celebrations include [[Christmas Lights]], Lighting of the [[Christmas Tree]], Firework shows, singing carols, marching bands, Santa floats, and many more events. ===Beirut International Marathon=== {{Main|Beirut Marathon}} "Beirut International Marathon" is an annual event in the Beirut Central District that started on October 19, 2003. It is organized by the non-profit [[NGO]] "Beirut Marathon Association" whose mission, according to their website, is to "passionately organize running events that inspire unity, positively change lifestyles, promote wellness, and provide an experience of challenge, achievement, joy, and glory; for the benefit of Lebanon, both for now and generations to come". Since it launched its first race in 2003, the marathon has grown noticeably receiving local and international recognition; thus earning the [[IAAF Road Race Label Events|Bronze Road Race Label]] from the [[International Association of Athletics Federations]], the "Power of Sports" award from the [[AIPSF]], and the [[Laureus Sport for Good Foundation|"Sports for Good"]] award from the [[Laureus World Sports Awards]]. The marathon's trail starts at a different point in the Beirut Central District each year but always terminates at [[Martyrs' Square, Beirut|Martyrs' Square]]. The marathon constitutes eight races: the 42 kilometer race, the 42 kilometer race (wheelchair), 42 kilometer relay, the 10 kilometer fun run, the 10,000 meters run, the 10,000 meters run (wheelchair), the 5 kilometer youth run, the one kilometer "run with mom" race. In 2009, the Beirut Marathon nearly drew 33,000 runners covering various distances from 10 kilometers to the traditional 42 kilometers. ==External links== http://www.solidere.com/solidere.html http://www.DowntownBeirut.com/ {{coord missing|Lebanon}}