Beirut, Lebanon
Nejmeh Square, the Place de l'Étoile, is the central square of downtown Beirut, about 2,245 square metres with streets radiating from it like the points of a star, hence its name. It was laid out in the 1920s under the French Mandate, when the old souqs were cleared and modern streets opened, making it the heart of a new commercial and government quarter. In the middle stands the famous clock tower, built in 1930 as a gift from Michel Abed, a Lebanese emigrant to Mexico, with clocks on all four faces. Around the square rise yellow-stone buildings in Art Deco and French-Levantine styles, with arcades and iron balconies, chief among them the Lebanese Parliament, along with the Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral and its crypt museum, and nearby the Maronite Cathedral of Saint George and the Al-Omari Grand Mosque. Rebuilt after the civil war, the square became an internationally recognised symbol of Beirut, with open-air cafés and restaurants, and has hosted the city's big New Year celebrations.
Access is sometimes limited by security barriers because of the Parliament, so check the situation before going. Evening, when the yellow buildings are lit, is the loveliest time. Make it the centre of a downtown walk with the two cathedrals, the Omari and Emir Assaf mosques, and the Beirut Souks nearby.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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MuseumBeirut, Lebanon
