Hamidiye Clock Tower: Beirut's Ottoman Timekeeper

The Hamidiye Clock Tower, also known as the Ottoman Clock Tower, is located in downtown Beirut, near the Grand Serail. Constructed in 1897, the tower celebrated the 10th anniversary of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II's coronation. Designed by architect Youssef Aftimus, it addressed the need for a public clock to indicate Muslim prayer times, especially given the presence of Western-style clock towers built by foreign institutions.The tower's foundation stone was laid on January 9, 1897, coinciding with the Sultan's birthday. The 25-meter-tall structure was once the tallest in Beirut. Its construction involved local materials, including Beirut sandstone, Jounieh limestone, Damascene basalt, and Deir el Qamar red stone. The tower houses a 300kg bell on its third floor, accessible via 125 cast iron steps. Four miniature orientalist-style balconies adorn this floor, with large clock faces imported from France above them.During the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), the clock tower suffered significant damage. It was meticulously restored in 1994 to its original glory. Today, the Hamidiye Clock Tower faces Lebanon's parliament and symbolizes Beirut's Ottoman heritage and cultural evolution.