Beirut    City of contrasts

Many times destroyed and rebuilt, Beirut is a city of many facets all accented by a mix of East and west. Dynamic, congested, elegant, and ostentatious, it shows a different aspect at every turn

Beirut never leaves a visitor indifferent; its contrasts are too overwhelming. Luxurious air-conditioned shops sell elegant international brands while a few meters away picturesque merchants push their carts under the hot sun. Old villas, freshly repainted, are reflected in modern glass buildings, mirroring a pastiche of past and present.
More city contrasts appear in its remaining ruined and abandoned neighborhoods, a last testimony of the war. But just around the corner you'll find animated side streets full of restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Beirut is epitomized by its downtown, now under a huge reconstruction project. Here you will see restored buildings painted in beautiful pastel colors in a scene that might have come from " A Thousand and One Nights" Narrow pedestrian streets with their perfect geometry, are often enlivened by nighttime spectacles, fairs and parties- all carried out against the backdrop of the finely carved masonry facades.

Turning off one of these streets you come to the Roman Baths, now harmoniously integrated into the urban landscape. The Grand Serial, a huge building constructed by the Ottomans in 1849, dominates this quarter.
You will also be tempted to walk along the famous corniche of Rouche. This two- kilometer seaside promenade attracts a wide variety of joggers, sports walkers, strollers, food vendors, and coffee drinkers. At sunset couples walk arm in arm watching the sun sink into the sea behind the landmark Pigeon Rocks, just offshore.

Beirut is a busy, bustling capital with a major port serving the nation's business and commercial interests. But when offices and shops close, Beirutis often go out on the town to enjoy the many restaurants and nightclubs of this cosmopolitan city.

A cultural center as well as the capital city, Beirut is known for its many universities ans schools. The National Museum documents the great archeological past of Lebanon, while musical, artistic, and dramatic activities take place year round.