Alexander the Great founded it. Queen Cleopatra ruled it. The birth and early history of Alexandria is a calling card with famous names. This was the dazzling jewel of a city in the Mediterranean; home to the Great Library of Alexandria and the colossal Pharos Lighthouse – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In more recent times, from the late 19th century to the 1950s, Alexandria was something of a bohemian bad boy, with a glittering cast of writers, poets and artists who made the city their home. More than any other major city in Egypt, Alexandria has a romantic days-gone-by atmosphere that cannot be beaten and that history buffs should not miss.
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1 Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Library of Alexandria
A reimagining of the ancient Great Library of Alexandria, this beautifully designed cultural center contains a host of museums and one of the most ambitious libraries of the modern world. The architecture – a giant solar disk – sits on the Corniche on the water, while inside a huge reading room can hold eight million volumes. Below themain library, visitors can explore a range of beautifully displayed exhibitions. TheManuscript Museum with its beautiful collection of ancient texts and scrolls and theAntiquities Museum with its Greco-Roman antiquities and statues found in the harbor during underwater exploration, these are its two main attractions. But there are also rotating art exhibits, a permanent Egyptian folk art collection, and aScience Museum andPlanetarium that are aimed at children.
Location: Corniche, Shatby
Official site: www.bibalex.org
2 Alexandria National Museum
AlexandriaNational Museum is a must-stop if you want to get to grips with the vast history of this famous city. Inside, the collection takes you from the Pharaonic era (in the basement) to the Hellenistic heyday, when Alexandria and Egypt were ruled by the Ptolemy dynasty, started by Alexander the Great (on the ground floor), and up to the Byzantine and Islamic periods (on the 1st floor). In addition to the displays, sculptures and antiquities excavated in and around the city (including finds from underwater explorations in the area off the coast) there are excellent map drawings depicting what the classical city of Alexandria would have looked like, which really helps visitors understand the changing face of this city.
Adres: Tariq al-Horreya Street
3 Fort Qaitbey
Walk west along the long Corniche road along the coast and you will eventually arrive at Fort Qaitbey. It may be a poor substitute for what was once the site of the mighty Pharos Lighthouse – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – but this squat A dull fortress has guarded Alexandria’s eastern harbor since 1480. The Pharos themselves bid adieu to Alexandria in 1303 when it was overthrown by a violent earthquake. Fort Qaitbey was built by Mamluke Sultan Qaitbey in an effort to protect this important Egyptian port from attack, and rubble from the toppled lighthouse was used in its construction. Inside, you can explore the series of stone-walled rooms and climb to the roof to look out over the Mediterranean Sea.
Locatie: Corniche, Eastern Harbour
4 Corniche
Downtown Alexandria’s wide waterfront is as much a symbol of the city as any of its landmarks. Here you will get a real feel for the era of cosmopolitan elegance and decadence that this city marked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Much of the architecture from this era still stands along the Corniche, but today much of it is badly dilapidated and falling into disrepair. During your walk, see the colonial remains of theCecil Hotel andWindsor Palace Hotel these are still the most important addresses on the harbor side for visitors who want to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of days gone by. During the Second World War the Cecil played host to Winston Churchill and the British Secret Service and both hotels have sought to restore and maintain their original Edwardian charm.
5 Kom el-Dikka
Come to Dikka
No one thought much about the old dump in downtown Alexandria until they decided to clear the site in 1947 to make way for new housing. Instead, the area known asKom el-Dikka (“Mound of Rubble”) revealed a whole collection of ancient ruins, including a small a> and the mosaic floor of a wealthy Roman-era home, now known as the /span>.Villa of the birdsPtolemaic temple. Excavation work has begun and today this park area includes the remains of aRoman theater
Adres: Yousri Street
6 Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqqafa
TheCatacombs of Kom el-Shuaqqfa are carved into the rock on the southern slopes of a hill, in the Carmous district. Thought to date from the 2nd century AD, they provide an admirable example of the characteristic Alexandrian fusion of Egyptian and Greco-Roman styles. Discovered in 1900 (thanks to a donkey falling into it) they are on different levels of sarcophagi andloculi (plank tomb) chambers.
A spiral staircase leads down to the ground to the main roundabout. On the right you can enter the main text burial chamber and also the Sepulchral chapel with 91loculi, each large enough for three or four mummies. On the left is a large room known as theTriclinium Funebre, which would have been used for banquets in honor of the dead.
Location: Carmous
7 Pompey’s Pillar
In Carmous (in the southwest of the city), a hill is littered with the remains of ancient walls, architectural fragments and rubble on which Alexandria’s only ancient monument remains. Pompey’s Pillar rises from the ruins of the ancient and famous Serapeion (Temple of Serapis), which was once used to store the overflow of manuscripts from the Great Library of Alexandria. This column of red Aswan granite with a Corinthian capital, standing on a badly ruined substructure and rising to a height of almost 27 metres, actually has nothing to do with Pompey and was instead erected in AD 292 in honor of Diocletian, who provided food for the starving population after the siege of the city.
Location: Carmous
8 Montazah Gardens
An oasis of tranquility on the eastern edge of the city, Montazah is a lush oasis of tall palm trees, mown lawns and blooming flowers that were once forbidden to all but the royal court and their pendants. Built as a hunting lodge in the 1890s by Khedive Abbas Hilmi, it was later expanded by King Fuad and replacedRas el-Tin Palace as the summer home of the Royal family. The eccentrically designedMontazah Palace with its graceful Florentine-inspired towers and rococo walls is not open to the public, but everyone is welcome to stroll in the extensivegardens, which are a welcome bit of nature after a day spent in Alexandria’s hustle and bustle. On the coastal side of the park there is a small beach with a strange jagged bridge to a small island. If you need a dose of rest, a trip to Montazah is just the ticket to restore your sanity before diving back into the fray of the inner city. Minibuses heading west along the banks of the Corniche road all pass Montazah. They charge between 1-2 EGP depending on where you board.
Location: Corniche
9 Ras el-Tin Palace
opulent Ras el-Tin Palace was once a summer getaway for Egyptian sultans when the desert heat of Cairo became too much to bear. It is also the famous location where King Farouk – the last king of Egypt – officially renounced the port of Alexandria in 1952 and went into exile in Italy. Today the palace is used by the Egyptian Navy, meaning its glorious interiors are off-limits to casual visitors, but its monumental white facade, best seen from the harbor waters, is a must-see.
Location: Corniche
10 Cleopatra’s palace
Cleopatra’s palace
There may be few remains of the once great Hellenistic city above ground, but dive into the waters of AlexandriaEastern Harbor area , and you’ll notice there’s a lot more of the old “Alex” can be discovered. Archaeologists have been searching for the lost sunken city of the Classical era for years, bringing to the surface many treasures (which can now be seen in the museums of Alexandria), but recreational divers can also visit the archaeological ruins under the sea . The most popular site is (unsurprisingly) nicknamed ” Cleopatra’s Palace ” and indeed it was once a palace precinct – although if the great lady herself was ever in residence we shall never know. There are sphinxes and tumbled columns and sculptures in abundance here still in situ, making for a fascinating underwater experience.
Locatie: Eastern Harbour
11 Kavafy Museum
One of Alexandria’s most famous sons, Constantine Cavafy (1863-1933), was a Greek Alexandrian poet who found fame and recognition for his writings after his death. His flat on what is now Sharm el-Sheikh Street is a tribute to his life and a major attraction for anyone on an Alexandrian literary pilgrimage. Cavafy spent his working life as a journalist and civil servant, little known for his poetry outside a small group of Alexandria-based writers (including the English novelist EM Forster who championed Cavafy’s work). However, his poetry is rich with Alexandria’s vast history – particularly its Hellenistic origins – and he has become one of the city’s highly celebrated literary figures. The smallmuseum contains many of his manuscripts and correspondence.
Address: Sharm el-Sheikh Street
12 Anfushi
The workers’ district of Anfushi extends west of Fort Qaitbey and the harbor in a warren of alleys that contain some of Alexandria’s best seafood restaurants. Just after sunset this is the liveliest area of the city to explore, with traditional coffee houses lining the streets and the smell ofsheesha (hookahs) and grilled fish hanging in the air. On Qasr Ras el-Tin Street the towns areshipyards, while further along the street is bustling AlexandriaFish Market< /span>, which is ideal terrain for photographers in the mornings when the haggling is at full speed.
13 Abu Abbas al-Mursi music
One of Alexandria’s most important landmarks, theAbu Abbas al-Mursi Mosque was built in 1796 over the tomb of the 13th century Sufi saint Abu Abbas al-Mursi. Originally from Murcia (in the Andalusia region of Spain), Abu Abbas became a highly respected religious leader in Alexandria and his teachings are still revered in Egypt. The gigantic cream-colored mosque bearing his name is an important pilgrimage site. For non-religious visitors, the mosque’s beautiful facade with swirling Islamic calligraphy designs and motifs is the main draw. Those wishing to enter to see the beautiful and intricate mosaic halls should dress modestly and leave their shoes at the main entrance.
Address: Mohammad Karim Street
14 Main souk area
Alexandriamain souq (market) stretches through the streets towards the west of Midan Tahrir in the central city. You can find everything from fresh produce to silver trinkets by browsing around this neighborhood. To be honest, there isn’t much for sale to interest tourists; this is a real-deal local souk and you come here more to catch an essence of Alexandrian life than to shop. The entire souq area consists of a winding series of avenues that branch off from each other, with each alley specializing in different products. If you want to dig a little deeper into Alexandria’s soul, don’t miss a stroll through here.
Location: Midan Tahrir
Where to stay in Alexandria for sightseeing
Many of Alexandria’s attractions are on or near the Corniche, the city’s wide waterfront promenade. If you are visiting for the first time, this area makes a great base. Here you will find the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Fort Qaitbey, the Alexandria National Museum and the Montazah Palace. Other attractions, such as Kom el Dikka, are nearby. Here are a fewhighly rated hotels in this convenient location:
- Luxury Hotels: Located on the waterfront along the Corniche, Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria features a European-style spa, kids’ club, private beach and inviting pools and restaurants. It is one of the best luxury hotels in the city. Also on the Corniche, a more affordable luxury option is the Hilton Alexandria Corniche with spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea, a wellness spa, fitness center, rooftop pool and multiple restaurants. A free shuttle takes you to a private beach. Convenient for the airport and beaches, the new Radisson Blu Hotel has similar facilities and rooms have private terraces with lake, pool or garden views.
- Mid-range hotels: Romance Alexandria Corniche is within walking distance of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and has beautiful sea views, as well as the Steigenberger Cecil Hotel from 1929. This elegant hotel is even closer to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and just a five-minute walk from the Alexandria National Museum. One of Alexandria’s oldest hotels, Paradise Inn Le Metropole Hotel dates back to 1902 and is popular for its attentive service and historic charm.
- Budget Hotels: Alexandria Mediterranean Suites is a great choice for families and extended stays. It offers apartment-style accommodation on the Corniche, not far from Montazah Palace. Aifu Resort El-Montazah is located a little further north and has a swimming pool and free parking. Some rooms offer views of the Mediterranean Sea and El Montazah’s gardens. A few blocks from the Corniche, Hotel Delta, with clean, old-fashioned rooms and a popular French restaurant, is another budget-friendly option.
Day trips from Alexandria
Aboukir
Presiding over a promontory, defended on all sides by ancient fortresses, the small fishing village of Aboukir has an illustrious history that belies its small size defies. This is where, on August 1, 1798, the Battle of the Nile was fought, with Nelson inflicting a devastating defeat on the French fleet. Here too, in 1799, Napoleon defeated a numerically superior Turkish force; and here also, in 1801, Sir Ralph Abercromby defeated the remnants of the French army and forced them to evacuate Egypt. For maritime history buffs, this military past of battles is reason enough to visit, but for the average tourist, the main reason for a trip here is to sample some of Egypt’s best seafood. Aboukir Bay is home to a host of fantastic seafood restaurants that locals flock to in the summer months. Stuffing yourself with shrimp and crab as sunset sears over the Mediterranean is the perfect end to a day in Alexandria.
Location: 15 miles northeast of Alexandria
El Alamein War Memorials
The hardscrabble township ofEl Alamein has a fascinating place in modern world history. It was over this parched patch of nondescript desert that the Allies’ first decisive victory in the North Africa campaign of World War II was won. The bloody battles that took place here in October 1942 killed or wounded more than 80,000 soldiers from countries as varied as Australia, New Zealand, India and Great Britain (Allies), as well as Germany and Italy (Axis powers). Today, the war memorials that stand there are a poignant reminder of the 13 days of fighting that claimed so many lives. The rather excellentEl Alamein War Museum gives a good overview of the El Alamein campaign with plenty of military memorabilia on display. TheCommonwealth Cemetery is a beautifully kept tribute to the fallen with the 7,000 gravestones arranged in regular rows among well-tended desert plants. Just north of the town, along the coast road is the boxy German Memorial where most of the 4,500 German dead are buried and a few more kilometers to the north lies theItalian Memorial, which is also home to a small but interesting museum.
Location: 70 miles west of Alexandria
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