#sursock palace

[robert-hadley]

Sursock Palace, Beirut. Photo by James Kerwin

[art-damaged]

Artemisia Gentileschi “Hercules and Omphale” /explosion

An anonymous painting damaged in the 2020 explosion at the port of Beirut has now been attributed to the great 17th-century artist Artemisia Gentileschi.

The work was on view at the Sursock Palace at the time of the explosion, when it was pierced by shards of glass from a blown-out window and impaled by wood from the window frame. Once salvaged from the rubble, the work was observed by Gregory Buchakjian, a Lebanese artist and art historian who made the case for the painting’s authenticity as a Gentileschi original. Leading scholars have since agreed with his assessment.

The painting is currently undergoing a major restoration at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. “The devastation this painting experienced is the most serious I have ever seen,” said the Getty’s senior conservator of paintings, Ulrich Birkmaier, noting the “staggering” amount of tearing and paint loss but assuring that the oil on canvas would be “returned to its former splendor.” If all goes to plan, the painting is slated to go on view at the Getty Center in late 2023 before returning to Sursock Palace, which is still under restoration.

[your-dietician]

This Mediterranean city is the Paris of the Middle East

New Post has been published on https://medianwire.com/this-mediterranean-city-is-the-paris-of-the-middle-east/

This Mediterranean city is the Paris of the Middle East

For most Europeans, the Mediterranean evokes the sun-soaked coastlines of Italy, France, Greece and Spain. But does this neglect one of its best destinations?

Though Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, has long suffered instability, it was once hailed as the Paris of the Middle East. Resilient in the face of conflict and disaster, the city maintains a raw energy powered by its fusion of modern and old.

Here’s where to explore modern shopping districts and buzzing nightlife in this underrated city.

Modern malls and high-end residences rise among Beirut’s war remnants

When you head downtown to Beirut Souks, don’t expect the jumble and chaos of Marrakech.

Partially designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning Spanish architect, Rafael Moneo, this al fresco shopping district opened in 2009. It replaces the souk that was destroyed in the Lebanese Civil War, which lasted from 1975 until 1990 with Beirut at the heart of the conflict.

Contemporary design meets traditional architecture in the souks, injecting modernity into the historic district while nodding to its past.

As you peruse the rows of high-end international brands, you’ll see why Beirut has developed a reputation as a regional fashion hub.

Close by, in Beirut’s Central District, is the upscale neighbourhood of Saifi Village. It is abuzz with boutiques, bars, galleries and farmers markets that take over French-colonial style buildings.

These were reconstructed after the civil war, during which Saifi Village sat along the ‘Green Line’, the no-man’s land that divided the city. Today, the sniper’s nests have been renovated into homes with warm-coloured facades.

Remnants of the civil war remain throughout the city – not in museums but in plain sight. A visit to the ruins of Beirut’s Holiday Inn, which was at the heart of the ‘Battle of the Hotels’, is a chilling reminder of how recent, and personal, this conflict is to the locals.

To learn about the city’s more distant history, head to the behemoth National Museum of Beirut. It is packed with Lebanese artefacts dating from prehistoric times all the way through the different eras and 15 empires that the city lived under.

From mosques to beer bars, tradition and modernity coexist in Beirut

Religion plays an important role in Beirut’s identity, and there are countless beautiful churches and mosques to visit. Not to be missed, the blue-domed, Ottoman-style Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque is flanked by 65-metre-high minarets and is architecturally stunning.

Right next door is the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. George, the oldest active church in Beirut. The cathedral’s interior is where it really comes alive, with colourful frescoes and gold accents encased in a classical orthodox exterior – also restored after the civil war. Deep below in the crypt, you’ll find a wealth of architectural finds.

Just 10 minutes’ walk from the cathedral, you can wander the bohemian Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, a buzzing world of pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes.

It’s a great place to try the local beer, and wind down with friendly locals among the narrow streets and old French-era buildings.

Only a stone’s throw away is the L’Escalier de L’Art, a 500-metre uphill staircase that connects Rue Gouraud and Rue Sursock. As the name suggests, the staircase has held a number of art exhibitions since 1973.

Beirut has a vibrant music and party scene

It might surprise you that Beirut also has a vibrant music scene. Take a trip outside the city to discover some truly unique venues.

Drive 42km past beach resorts and high-rises into the green of the Chouf Mountains, where you’ll find the Beiteddine Palace set among orchards and terraced gardens. With its stunning blend of Italian and Arab baroque, it’s easy to see why the Ottoman Governor, Emir Bashir Chehab II, made this his residence.

Completed in 1818, it has continued to play a vital role in Lebanon’s political history over the years – but today, it hosts the famed Beiteddine Festival. The event traditionally attracts international talents from the opera and classical world, but has also welcomed artists like Elton John, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, UB40 and others.

Don’t feel like driving? Beirut’s nightlife won’t disappoint. Dance music is popular in the city, and things really kick off in the summer with international DJs making their rounds.

Venues like SKYBAR, The Ballroom Blitz, and practically any of the clubbing institutions within the BIEL Waterfront have earned Beirut status as a party hub. It even ranked third in CNN’s 2019 list of the world’s best party cities.

Where to get Beirut’s best falafel

Any local will tell you that one of the best things about being Lebanese is the food. The country’s coastal climate lends itself to fresh, fragrant and colourful dishes, with centuries of history embodied in each one.

Must-tries include sfiha (flatbread cooked with a minced meat topping), tabbouleh (Levantine chopped parsley salad), manakish (dough topped with thyme, cheese, or ground meat), kibbeh (Levantine croquettes) and knafeh (spun pastry dessert), to name only a few.

As for where to sample Beirut’s best food, local recommendations include Barbar in Hamra for sandwiches and M Sahyoun on Damascus Road for falafel. If you think you’re seeing double on arrival, don’t go and get your eyes checked just yet.

Two Falafel Sahyouns stand side by side – owned by two brothers who are engaged in a bitter, long-standing feud. Even though the menus are practically the same, these two restaurants have legendary status within Beirut, with incredible falafel that have the locals divided.

By now, you’ve seen how much Beirut has to offer. This is a city with history, culture, religion and modern appeal.

But it’s the city’s energy that really stands out. The people are friendly. The pace is fast. There’s always something to do. However you choose to spend your time here, your senses will surely be stimulated.

Read full article here

[zombilenium]

Sursock Palace, Beirut, Libanon,

The recently restored 19th-century palace was one of the treasured tourist attractions destroyed in last week’s massive chemical explosion.

The Irish-born owner of Beirut’s landmark Sursock Palace and his American wife had finished a 20-year restoration of the landmark building from damage suffered in the country’s 1975-1990 civil war when 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded like an atom bomb last Tuesday.

“In a split second, everything was destroyed again,” said Roderick Sursock, owner of the palace that is treasured as one of the most storied buildings in the Lebanese capital.

The palace, built in 1860, lost the ceilings of the top floor along with many of the walls in the blast that officials now say killed at least 200.

Roderick Sursock told the Associated Press that the damage is at least 10 times what 15 years of civil war inflicted on the palace, which also survived both world wars and the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

The palace will only survive with yet another restoration “as if rebuilding the house from scratch,” Sursock said.

But he will not even contemplate starting until a total change in leadership in what he angrily called a nation “run by a gang of corrupt people.”

AP/Felipe Dana 

#art #design #interiors #architecture #palace #sursock palace #beirut #lebanon #destruction #discarded #revolution #felipe dana #A/P #civil war #ottoman empire #corruption #freedom #explosion #chemical #restauration

[livesunique]

Sursock Palace, Beirut, Libanon

#art #design #interiors #architecture #palace #sursock palace #beirut #libanon #luxury house #luxury home #luxury lifestyle #history #style #arch

[palazzonostalgy]

simonuptonphotos

Sursock Palace, Beirut.

[wearelebanon]

The art of architecture in Sursock ✨ 📸: @thelebanesearchitect #WeAreLebanon (at Sursock Palace) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPYkOlkr7WN/?utm_medium=tumblr

#wearelebanon

[bohemiandecadence]

Sursock Palace ad_magazine

[ddtvnews]

Blast destroyed landmark 19th century palace in Beirut

Blast destroyed landmark 19th century palace in Beirut

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The palace is so damaged that it will require a long, expensive and delicate restoration, “as if rebuilding the house from scratch.”

The 160-year-old palace withstood two world wars, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the French mandate and Lebanese independence. After the country’s 1975-1990 civil war, it took 20 years of careful restoration for the family to bring the palace back to its…

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#Beirut blast #beirut palace #Lebanon #Lebanon Blast #lebanon port blast #sursock palace

[news-chhondomela]

UN: 178 killed in Beirut explosion, 30 still missing

UN: 178 killed in Beirut explosion, 30 still missing

By: AP | Beirut | Updated: August 14, 2020 2:45:23 pm

A painting hangs on the wall of a heavily damaged room in the Sursock Palace after the explosion in the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

The death toll from last week’s massive explosion in Lebanon’s capital has risen to nearly 180, with an…

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[ivandimarcofotografo]

Beirut explosion devastates Sursock Palace and Museum – in pictures

Among the many homes and buildings damaged by the Beirut explosion were the Sursock Museum and Palace. The 19th-century palace was once one of Beirut’s grandest town houses, and the mansion housing the museum was left to the city of Beirut in 1952

Continue reading... https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2020/aug/13/beirut-explosion-devastates-sursock-palace-and-museum-in-pictures

#Photography | The Guardian #photography

[nadoum]

Good night . . #lebanon #beirut #igersbeirut #museum #night #light #palace #history #iphonegrapgy #iphone7plus #iphoneonly #picoftheday #photography #urban #2016 #travel #travelingram #travelphotography #vacation #arch #architecture (at Sursock Museum)

#travelphotography #travel #travelingram #vacation #igersbeirut #history #architecture #iphonegrapgy #picoftheday #iphone7plus #night #museum #beirut #iphoneonly #light #2016 #photography #urban #arch #palace #lebanon

[mealha]

Beirut explosion devastates Sursock Palace and Museum – in pictures

Among the many homes and buildings damaged by the Beirut explosion were the Sursock Museum and Palace. The 19th-century palace was once one of Beirut’s grandest town houses, and the mansion housing the museum was left to the city of Beirut in 1952

Continue reading... from Photography | The Guardian https://ift.tt/3an2OB9

[wearelebanon]

Sursock palace after the explosion 💔 Photos by. @superal102 (at Sursock Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDn0mfrDu_F/?igshid=kdldn57ffg9x

[timesnowpost]

Beirut blast destroyed recently restored 19th-century palace

A recently restored 19th-century palace was one of the treasured tourist attractions destroyed in last week’s massive chemical explosion, according to its devastated owner. The Irish-born owner of Beirut’s landmark Sursock Palace and his American wife had finished a 20-year restoration of the landmark building from damage suffered in the country’s 1975-1990 civil war when […]

The post Beirut blast destroyed recently restored 19th-century palace appeared first on Times Now Post.

source https://www.timesnowpost.com/beirut-blast-destroyed-recently-restored-19th-century-palace/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beirut-blast-destroyed-recently-restored-19th-century-palace

[coolsandy8800]

Blast destroyed landmark 19th century palace in Beirut

Blast destroyed landmark 19th century palace in Beirut

The 160-year-old Sursock palace in Beirut withstood two world wars, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the French mandate and Lebanese independence

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#Breaking #Global #News #World