Seraglio of Baabda
Lebanon · Asia
About
The Seraglio of Baabda (Arabic: سراي بعبدا; also Baabda serail), is a historic building located in Baabda, Lebanon, and is one of the country's oldest official buildings. This particular seraglio played a key role in Lebanon's history between 1860 and 1916, during the period of the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate (itself ruled by the Ottoman Empire). Built of sandstone, the palace features castle-like architecture, with four corner towers, and a surface area of 7,852 m2 (84,520 sq ft) spread over two floors surrounding an inner courtyard. Today, the seraglio houses the headquarters of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, as well as several administrative offices. The building requires extensive restoration; it was listed as a historic monument in 2008.
Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.