To bring it to its present status after being
torn up by years of civil war, the city centre went through a phase
where it was the most colossal construction site known to the region
in decades. Extensive efforts lead by Solidere (the company charged
with reconstruction & development) finally paid off; the restoration
project left nothing from the war but memories. For a few years
now, the city centre has definitely been the beating heart of the
Middle East, right at the heart of the city that doesn't sleep.
Historically, Beirut City Centre is the witness
on civilizations over 5000 years old with ancient monuments that
still stand today with epic tales to tell. With its remarkable architecture,
glorious landmarks, and numerous cafés and retail outlets,
the city centre has definitely turned into a prime destination for
tourists from all over the world. Beirut City Centre is home to
the Parliament, the Government Palace, and the Municipality of Beirut;
all traditional monuments restored into charming structures with
an architectural mix of Ottoman, European, and Oriental design.
After reclaiming its commercial character, the city centre right
away became Beirut’s most prestigious address for government
institutions, banks, offices, boutiques, and restaurants. Its continuous
growth in diversity and the increasing number of visitors surely
tell a story of radiant success.
Open-air cafés fill up with families, while groups of youngsters
chat and preen themselves on street corners and parade along streets
lined with expensive boutiques. A familiar scene perhaps, but for
most of those who flock to the recently restored central district
this is a new and sweet experience.
During afternoons, the central district makes the
ideal sanctuary for families; parents watch over their children
play while enjoying an espresso break in an outdoor café.
When the sun goes down, the area becomes a cheery celebration of
colors, lights, and music; this is when the fun really starts. The
night completely changes the mood as it brings out the delightful
blend of laughter, mumbling, live music, and the aromas of the chefs’
tasty delicacies from restaurants of various nationalities like
Lebanese, Moroccan, Thai, French, Chinese, Japanese, and others.
Locals and visitors find shopping in Downtown Beirut a delightful
treat. Fashion boutiques, jewelers, art galleries, furniture showrooms,
souvenirs and antiques arcades, beauty salons, and bookshops; all
line up neatly on both sides of the beautiful paved streets which
are open for pedestrians only.
Solidere sees an even brighter future
for this area; huge commercial, residential, and leisure projects
have already commenced, and a lot more are yet to start. The company
envisions Beirut Central District in the near future as the finest
in the Middle East, and a major player in the region’s economy
and culture.
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Lebanon - Destination
Focus
