Sassine Square ( ar, ساحة ساسين) is a

town square A town square (or square, plaza, public square, city square, urban square, or ''piazza'') is an open public space, commonly found in the heart of a traditional town but not necessarily a true geometric square, used for community gatherings. ...

Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to Lebanon–Syria border, the north and east and Israel to Blue ...

, it is one of the most prominent urban areas of East

. It is located in the

Achrafieh Achrafieh ( ar, الأشرفية) is an upper-class area in eastern Beirut, Lebanon. In strictly administrative terms, the name refers to a sector (''secteur'') centred on Sassine Square, the highest point in the city, as well as a broader quarter ...

district. Historically and popularly named after an old and prominent family of

, Sassine Square was officially inaugurated in the early '90s under the auspices of President

Elias Hrawi Elias Hrawi ( ar, الياس الهراوي, 4 September 1926 – 7 July 2006) was president of Lebanon, whose term of office ran from 1989 to 1998. Early life and education Hrawi was born in Hawch Al Umara, Zahlé, to a wealthy landowning Maro ...

, Prime-Minister

Rafic Hariri Rafic Bahaa El Deen Al Hariri ( ar, رفيق بهاء الدين الحريري; 1 November 1944 – 14 February 2005) was a Lebanese business tycoon and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from ...

, Member of Parliament Michel Sassine, and the Municipal Council of Beirut City .
/ref> Sassine Square is reputed to be a key social and commercial focal point of the Lebanese capital. Beyond being a residential area with a large pedestrian and transportation hub, it hosts renowned commercial and leisure centers, including the ABC Group, ABC Mall, attracting large numbers of visitors and tourists . Like the ancient Agora of the Greek towns, Sassine Square is becoming a meeting place where all the Lebanese from different cultures and confessions communicate daily. On 19 October 2012, a car bomb exploded in an alley leading to Sassine street next to Sassine Square killing 8 including

Wissam al-Hassan Wissam Adnan al-Hassan ( ar, وسام عدنان الحسن, Wisām ‘Adnān al-Ḥasan; 11 April 1965 – 19 October 2012) was a brigadier general at the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) and the head of its intelligence-oriented ...

and injuring 78.

References

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External links

Photo Of Sassine Square By Paul Saad
*Article on the history of Ashrafieh and how it evolved through time - Interview with Former Ashrafieh MP Michel Sassine (Dec. 2011): https://www.scribd.com/doc/77669439/Interview-on-the-History-of-Achrafieh-with-HE-Michel-Sassine-Dec-2011 Beirut Neighbourhoods of Beirut Streets in Beirut