Martyrs' Square, Beirut

Martyrs' Square is the central public plaza of Beirut, named for nationalists executed by the Ottoman authorities during the First World War. A bronze memorial statue, still bearing scars from the civil war, stands at its heart. Once the bustling hub of the old city centre, the square sat on the front line during the conflict and was largely destroyed, then rebuilt as part of the downtown regeneration. It remains a symbolic gathering place for protests and celebrations, framed by the great blue-domed mosque and nearby cathedral.