Alexandria

Alexandria “The Mediterranean Pearl”

Every traveler has the opportunity to experience the full charm and majesty of the Greco-Roman wonders of Egypt in the most vivid and enthralling way in Alexandria, the bride of the Mediterranean Sea. This article’s objective is to provide every traveler with comprehensive knowledge of the stunning city of Alexandria. A highly competent team of tour operators, tour guides, and travel advisors who are knowledgeable about Alexandria’s treasures wrote this page. Due to its connections to notable leaders like Alexander the Great and Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt who was still in power, Alexandria played the largest part in ancient history. After being constructed by Alexander the Great in 332 BC to serve as the hub of Hellenistic civilization, the city was instrumental in spreading Hellenic culture over the remainder of the Mediterranean. Up until the Muslim conquest in 641 AD, it served as Egypt’s capital during the Ptolemaic, Roman, and Byzantine eras. After that, the city became the nation’s official capital.

Location of Alexandria City

Alexandria, which has 3.5 million inhabitants over a land area of 2,679 km2, is second in size to Cairo. In addition to being 138 kilometers (114 mi) northwest of Cairo on the western edge of the Nile Delta, Alexandria’s location on the Mediterranean Sea shore stretches for 32 kilometers. It also benefits from a fantastic environment with warm, humid summers and wet winters all year long. It serves as a cultural stage for art and beauty and produces two-fifths of the nation’s industrial output.

Alexandria Attractions

The Catacombs

The city is also home to the magnificent Catacombs, also known as Kom Al Shoqafa tombs, which are regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. During the Greco-Roman era, these tombs served as the final resting place for a Greek Nobel family and are highly praised for their exquisite fusion of Greek and ancient Egyptian art.

Lighthouse of Alexandria

It is well-known for previously housing the Pharos of Alexandria, also known as the Legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was constructed between 280 and 247 BC during the Ptolemaic dynasty to serve as a symbol of the inventiveness of the ancient world and a guiding beacon of light and hope. It was formerly between 120 and 137 meters (394 to 449 feet) tall, making it the second-tallest building behind the pyramids. Some historians believe it to be the earliest lighthouse in ancient history, and at the time of its construction, it was one of the largest structures ever built. Unfortunately, after standing for 1,600 years, it was demolished by a series of earthquakes in 1303 and 1323 AD. In its place, utilizing the lighthouse’s remaining pieces, the strong castle of Qaitbay was built in 1477 AD to defend the city from any outside Navel attack.

Citadel of Qaitbay

The 17,550 square meter Citadel of Qaitbay is a fortified fortification situated on the Mediterranean seashore. It was built on the identical location of the renowned Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, in 1477 AD (882 AH) by the mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qa’it Bay.

Museums

The National Museum is the most well-known of Alexandria’s amazing museums, along with The Royal Jewelry Museum, The Cavafy Museum, and the Aquarium. From the time of the pharaohs through the nineteenth century, all of these museums are able to present Alexandria’s rich history.

Library of Alexandria

The original Royal Library of Alexandria, which stood as a true testament to intelligence and knowledge, is among the most well-known structures in history. The largest library in history, it was constructed during the rule of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-246 BC) and was destroyed by fire under mysterious circumstances by Julius Caesar during his civil war in 48 BC. It served as a center for art and science throughout the Mediterranean and was the source of enlightenment. It employed around 100 scholars and used to house between 40,000 and 400,000 scrolls, or roughly 100,000 books. The new Bibliotheca of Alexandrina, which was finished in 2002, pays homage to its predecessor in the most formal way.

Pompey’s Pillar

One of the magnificent historical landmarks in the city, Pompey’s Pillar, was named for a Roman triumphal column in Alexandria. Originally supporting a massive porphyry statue of the emperor, the enormous Corinthian column was erected in his honor between 298 and 302 AD. The Pompey Pillar, the only structure of its sort ever constructed, is the largest column ever constructed outside of Rome. The Temple of Serapeum’s center contains Pompey’s Pillar, a free-standing Roman-style column that may be found near two impressive sphinx statues.

Fort Qaitbay

Sultan Qaitbay constructed Fort Qaitbay, a magnificent historical landmark, in Alexandria around 1480. Some of the lighthouse’s remnants, like those of the Citadel of Qaitbay, were rebuilt when the fort was built. It is renowned for providing enchanting views of the harbor and the mesmerizing Mediterranean Sea seas.

Montazah Palace and Royal Gardens

The Muhammad Ali Dynasty Museum, housed in the magnificent Montaza Palace, was in charge of Egypt from 1805 to 1953, when it declared its independence as a republic. This wonderful museum presents Alexandria’s whole history as well as its varied heritage, culture, and lineage. The Royal Gardens of the palace are a significant component of contemporary Alexandria and provide a charming and alluring view of the public park and the nature reserve.

Roman Amphitheatre

During the excavation of the Pandion site, the Roman Amphitheatre was found close to the city’s core. The building is mostly in ruins, which are nonetheless in excellent condition and are a great atmospheric example of classical Roman architecture.

Stanley Bridge

Despite being only ten years old, Stanley Bridge provides a magnificent and breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea and the entire city of Alexandria. Both locals and tourists from other countries have come to recognize Stanley Bridge for its chic architecture and sophisticated design, and both want to stroll across the expansive cornice to take advantage of the picturesque views and priceless photo ops it offers.

Maamoura Beach

Located just east of the Royal Gardens of Montaza, Maamoura Beach is one of Alexandria’s most well-known tourist destinations. It features a magnificent boardwalk made of cobblestones lined with ice cream shops and food stands, and it gives breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Serpeum of Alexandria

West of the Alexandria library, Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-222 BCE) built the ancient Greek temple known as the Serpeum of Alexandria in honor of the Greco-Roman god Serapes.

El Alamein

Just 106 kilometers (66 miles) west of Alexandria and 240 kilometers (149 miles) northwest of Cairo, in the northern Matrouh Governorate of the Egyptian Arab Gulf, is the village of Al Alamein. It is well-known for hosting two crucial battles during World War II in the desert west of Alexandria, which some claim turned the course of the conflict and led Winston Churchill to remark that “Before Al Alamein, we never had a victory.” After Alamein, we never suffered a loss. There are numerous graves that serve as memorials to the significant casualties sustained by both sides during the two battles. Just north of the coastal highway between Alexandria and Mersa Matruh, it is home to the German and Italian cemeteries. The British cemetery is located to the south along with the Al Alamein Museum, which showcases artifacts and leftover equipment from the two battles.

Alexandria History

Alexandria is a well-liked tourist destination due to the astounding quantity of monuments there, as well as their magnificence and allure. Its impressive historical and cultural past has left behind some of the most significant tourist destinations in all of North Africa. After Alexander the Great visited the Amun Temple in Siwa, it was built over a hamlet called Racotis in 331 BCE. He gave Dinocrates, his chief architect, the task of creating a city that would embody his vision, preserve his legacy, rank among the great ancient metropolises, and serve as the real cultural center of the ancient world. Before going into decline in the fourth century AD, Alexandria rose to glory and even competed with Rome. The Sassanid Persians took control of Alexandria in 619 CE. The city was taken again by the Christian Byzantine Empire under Heraclius in 628 CE, but in 641 CE it was lost to the Arab Muslim invaders led by Caliph Umar.

The Mamluk and Fatimid dynasties spent most of their time in Cairo and settled with turning Alexandria into a naval port and a shipping port. Additionally, there is the well-known El-Mursi Abul Abbas Mosque, which is situated close to the Citadel of Qaitbay and was constructed in honor of the Murcian Andalusi Sufi saint Abul Abbas al-Mursi, who lived in the 13th century. Alexandria lost all sense of beauty, splendor, or elegance when it came under Ottoman dominion, but during Muhammad Ali’s administration, the city regained its lost attraction and rose to become one of the most desirable travel destinations in the world in 1805.

Back then, Alexandria was well known for housing a variety of ethnic groups, including the largest Jewish population in the world at the time and the first Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. The highest concentration of Jews and the Septuagint were found in Alexandria. As Egypt’s political and cultural hub during the advent of Christianity, the city gained importance to Egyptian Christians. Alexandria continues to serve as the Coptic Orthodox Papacy’s seat.