Sursock Museum

If you see this Italianate building at night, with its stained glass windows lit from within, you will understand why it is considered by many to be the most beautiful palace in Beirut. It was built in 1912 for the wealthy art collector Nicholas Ibrahim Sursock and was turned into a museum upon his death in 1952. Today it stands newly restored and expanded and features both a permanent collection of regional art but also temporary exhibits that highlight the work of contemporary Lebanese artists. Don’t miss the library, which has been preserved as it was when Mr. Sursock was in residence, and the Fouad Debbas Gallery, which contains thousands of photographs.