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History & Evolution
Originally named Berut meaning ‘The Wells’, Beirut’s history goes back to more than 5000 years. Excavations have unearthed layers of Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Arab and Ottoman civilizations.

The first historical reference of the city however dates back to 15th century BC, when it was mentioned in cuneiform tablet that is one of the “Amarna letters” though the prominence came when it became a colony of Rome in 14 BC. Under Romans, Beirut was famous for its law school, which existed for more than 300 years. Soon the Roman City was destroyed by a series of earthquakes in 551 AD.

In 635 AD when Arabs came, they took the city without much of a struggle and their rule was uninterrupted until AD 1110 when, after a long siege, the city fell into the hands of Baldwin I of Boulogne and a Latin bishopric was established.

The city changed hands several more times, its fortunes rising and falling with fluctuations in trade with Europe in spices and silk through sea. The town kept developing as a commercial hub of the country and by the middle of 19th century, its population had expanded beyond the city's walls. During this period of expansion, missionaries from the West and intellectuals of the Arab world also began to shape the city.

During the end of World War I, Beirut was captured by the allied forces and was then included in the mandate granted to France by the League of Nations. In 1920 the city was designated by the French to be the capital of the State of Greater Lebanon. During this period Beirut absorbed many European elements, including architecture, language as well as outlook.

After the first Arab-Israeli war, which lasted from 1948 to 1949, many Palestinians entered Lebanon and established a large refugee community in Beirut. However, the Lebanese civil war erupted in 1975, which completely divided and devastated the city. Beyond the division into East and West Beirut, the city was dominated by factionalism, with Sunnis, Shias, Druze, Palestinians, Maronites and other groups all controlling territory within the city. Many Lebanese fled the capital, and most services in the city collapsed.

To add to the misery of the nation, Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 and pursued the leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), who refusing to surrender barricaded themselves in West Beirut. But Israelis besieged the city and after much destruction, the PLO was evacuated to Tunisia and the Israelis withdrew to the south.

The Multinational Force (MNF), including French, Italian, American, and British troops, stationed in Beirut after 1982, became the target of numerous terrorist attacks and therefore, left Beirut in early 1984.

In 1986 the government of Lebanon invited the Syrian government to send troops to quell the fighting in Beirut. The Syrians began a period of rule that saw numerous shifts in alliance and continued destruction. Fighting persisted in Beirut but in the early 1990s the situation in Lebanon started getting stable and ambitious plans for the reconstruction of the city were undertaken.

Site-Seeing
Though the city is retrieving its treasures from the rubbles of 17 years of civil war, still Beirut is a bewildering and exciting composition of cultures and faiths. Though much of the ancient historical monuments have been destroyed by bombardment and fire, still Lebanese hold a belief close to their hearts that the city will be as beautiful as she was after the rebuilding is complete.

Nevertheless, despite all this, the still holds many churches, castles and other historical or archeological sites. Otherwise, one can always enjoy the pleasure of shopping or Smoking ‘chicha’ in the cafes.

The American University Museum:
Situated inside the American University campus, the museum has a fine collection of Phoenician glass and Arab coins from as early as 5th century BC. The AU museum was founded in 1868 and is one of the oldest in the Middle East.

Its collection also include Lebanese and Middle Eastern artifacts dating back to the Stone Age along with a large collection of pottery dating back to 3000 BC.

Location: Rue Bliss, Hamra

The National Museum:
Opened in 1942, the National Museum gives a great overview of Lebanon's history and the civilizations making it one good inspiration before a trip round the country or a neat summary after one.

Highlights of the impressive collection includes 5th century BC, beautifully-observed Phoenician marble statues of baby boys (from Echmoun), some lovely 3rd & 4th century AD mosaics, Byzantine gold jewellery (found in a jar under the floor of a Beirut villa) and the much-photographed famous Phoenician gilded bronze figurines (from Byblos). Besides the artifacts also includes several statuettes and sarcophagi from pre historic times.

The museum also screens a free 12-min video in its theatre detailing how curators saved the collection during the war.

Location: Damascus Street

Sursock Museum:
Housed in a beautiful old house, Sursock Museum holds modern art including paintings, sculptures & old manuscripts. In addition to its permanent collection, it also presents regular exhibitions of the several art forms.

Officially known as Nicolas Sursock Museum, it is the only modern art museum of Lebanon placed in a historic building. The wealthy Nicolas Sursock, a member of one of Beirut most prominent aristocratic families, built the museum as a private villa at the end of the 19th century.

Location: Rue Sursock in Achrafieh

Pigeons Grottoes:
Also known as the Pigeon Rocks, the grottoes are one of the most famous landmarks of the western Beirut. The rocks are a huge formation that stands like sentinels off the coast. The shores near Pigeon Rocks have yielded the oldest evidence we have of human existence on the site of Beirut.

Location: Raouche