Al Mutanabbi Street is home to a historic book market and the centre of intellectual life in Iraq's capital, Baghdad. Photo: Sinan Mahmoud / The National
The street has undergone a facelift and reopened early this month.
People visit Al Mutanabbi Street to buy books, watch arts performances and celebrate festivals.
Street vendors and coffee shops also thrive in the area.
The street lies in the heart of old Baghdad.
The revived Al Mutanabbi Street recently hosted Christmas and New Year celebrations.
A building's balconies freshly painted with Islamic motifs, on the street.
People look at books on sale.
The one-kilometre stretch of narrow colonnade has been repaved.
Authorities say they also want to recreate the area’s former buzzing nightlife.
Shops and yellow-brick buildings that flank either side of the famous street, some dating back to the Ottoman era, have been painted and decorated.
New wooden benches were installed and stalls for street vendors have been set up.
