Beirut history - Cultural heritage - Small Serail - Martyrs’ Square - Ottoman architecture
The Small Serail: The landmark lost to modernization
Once a symbol of Beirut’s transformation into a modern capital, the Small Serail was demolished in the 1950s, leaving behind a lasting absence in the city’s architectural memory. This article retraces the story of the lost landmark, its Ottoman-era design, its role in shaping Martyrs’ Square, and the question of whether Beirut can modernize without erasing its past.
Beirut history - Cultural heritage - Small Serail - Martyrs’ Square - Ottoman architecture