Roman and Byzantine Structures
Group of five columns
These columns found on the left of the St. George Maronite Cathedral, were once part of a grand colonnade of Roman Berytus. They were found in 1963.
Roman Exedra
Discovered west of the St. George Maronite Cathedral, this semi-circular cultural building was moved in 1963 to Blvd. Charles Helou near the eastern entrance to the modern port.
Roman baths
Behind Bank Street are the remains of the Roman bath which once served the city's population. Originally discovered in 1968-69, it underwent a thorough cleaning and further excavation in 1995 - 1997.
Four corniced columns
These columns in front of the Parliament Building in Nejmeh Square were discovered in 1968-69.
Highly carved colonnade
Found in the 1940's between Nejmeh Square and the Great mosque, this five column colonnade is part of the Roman basilica. The columns were later erected across from the National museum on Damascus Street.
Floor Mosaics
These mosaics came from a Byzantine church of the 5th century A.D. They were moved from Khalde south of Beirut to a site near the National Museum in the 1950's.
Crusaders, Mamluke and Ottoman Structures
Medieval wall
An excavated wall dating from Crusader and Mamluke times can be seen north of Weygand Street along the old Patriarch Howayyek street.
Crusader Castle
A large Crusader land castle once stood near the present port area. Excavations in 1995 revealed a large well-preserved section of the foundation wall complete with Roman column drums used as bond-stones or reinforcements.
The Grand Serail
Constructed in 1853, as an ottoman military
barracks, this building was the headquarters of the French governor during the French Mandate. After Lebanon's Independence, it became the Governmental Palace.
Ottoman Clock Tower
Located near the Grand Serail, this tower was built in 1897 and restored in 1994.
Ottoman Military Hospital
Just in front of the Grand Serail, this large building was constructed in 1860 as a military hospital. From the French Mandate Period until the 1960's it served as Law Courts. Completely renovated, it now houses the Council for Development and Reconstruction.
Al-Omari Mosque
Originally the Crusader Cathedral of St. John (1113 - 1115 A.D.), the building was transformed into the city's Grand Mosque by the Mamlukes in 1291.
Zawiyat Ibn al-'Arraq
Built in 1517 by Mohammed Ibn al-'Arraq ad-Dimashqi, this building was originally an Islamic law school and continued as an Islamic sanctuary into late Ottoman times. It was rediscovered during the post-war clean-up process in 1991.
Amir 'Assaf Mosque
Also called Bab es-Saray Mosque, this was built by Emir Mansour 'Assaf (1572 - 1580) on the site of the Byzantine Church of the Holy Savior.
Located opposite the Municipal Building.
Amir munzer Mosque
The Amir Munzer Mosque was built in 1620 on an earlier structure. Also called Naoufara (Foountain) Mosque, there are eight Roman columns in its courtyard.
Majidjiyyeh Mosque
This mosque was constructed in the mid-19th century and named after the Ottoman Sultan Abdul-Majid I (1839-1861).
Churches
The Greek-Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George
Until the recent war in Lebanon this church, built in 1767, was the oldest functioning church in Beirut. The decorations on its walls were lost during the war.
The Greek-Catholic cathedral of Saint Elias
This mid-19th century church with it's vaulted interior was once decorated with a marble iconostasis.
The Saint Louis Church of the Capucins
Inaugurated in 1863, this church served the foreign community of the Latin rite in Beirut.
The Evangelical Church
This church was built in 1867 by a group of Evangelical Anglo-American missionaries.
The Maronite Cathedral of Saint George
Built in 1888, the style of this church is neo-classical.
Museums
National Museum
Opened in 1942 to house Lebanon’s archeological treasures, the National Museum on Damascus Street is temporarily closed. Projects are underway to restore the building and gradually bring this national institution back to its former importance.
Sursock Museum
A museum of modern art located in the Sursock Quarter in Achrafieh. In addition to its permanent collection, it presents regular exhibitions of paintings, sculpture and other art forms.
The Archeological Museum of the American university of Beirut AUB.
Open weekdays 10 AM - 4PM except on academic holidays.