TRAVEL ALEXANDRIA
GENERAL INFORMATION-Alexandria was a major Mediterranean port of Egypt, in ancient times and still today, and was founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great. It was due to the Alexander the Great's motivation to build the city was his wish to "found a large and populous Greek city that should bear his name." Located 20 miles (32 km) west of the Nile's westernmost mouth. Alexandria became the capital of the Hellenized Egypt of King Ptolemy (1) I (reigned 323—283 BC). Under the wealthy Ptolemy dynasty, the city soon surpassed Athens as the cultural centre of the Greek world.
Laid out on a grid pattern, Alexandria occupied a stretch of land between the sea to the north and Lake Mareotis to the south, and north to the sheltering island of Pharos. On the east was the main harbour, called the Great Harbour, it faced the city's chief buildings, including the royal palace and the famous Library and Museum. At the Great Harbour’s mouth,stood the lighthouse, built in 280 BC. Now vanished, the lighthouse was reckoned as one of the Seven Wonders of the World for its unsurpassed height (about 460 feet), it was a square tower, topped with a metal fire basket and a statue of Zeus the Saviour. The Library, at that time the largest in the world, contained several hundred thousand volumes and housed and employed scholars and poets. A similar scholarly complex was the Museum. During Alexandria's brief literary golden period, 280–240 BC, it was a Cosmopolitan and flourishing city, Alexandria possessed a varied population of Greeks, Egyptians and other Oriental peoples, including a sizable minority of Jews, who had their own city quarter. The city enjoyed a calm political history under the Ptolemies. It passed, with the rest of Egypt, into Roman hands in 30 BC, and became the second city of the Roman Empire.
Dinocratis planned the city in squares, like a chessboard with two main streets interlaced vertically and horizontally extending from east to west as well as from north to south. Alexandria had 5 districts, each one named after a letter of the first five letters in the Greek Alphabet: A (Alpha); B (Beta); G (Gamma); D (Delta) and E (Epsilon). These 5 letters represent the initial letters of the text: "Alexander the king, the descendent of the gods, erected the city". Alpha was the royal district where the royal palaces, the main Temple, the museum, the libraries, and the gardens were built. Beta was the district of the Greek aristocracy. Gamma was dedicated to the settlement of the Greek commoners. Delta was the district of the foreign minorities such as the Syrians, the Persians, and the Jews. Epsilon was the district for the native Egyptians.
Drinking water was supplied by a canal starting from the western Canopic branch of the Nile, at a point called "Shedia" about 27 km to the south of Alexandria. The water was stored in Cisterns, some of which remain into modern times.
It is the second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria, known as "The Pearl of the Mediterranean", has an atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern, its ambience and cultural heritage distance it from the rest of the country although it is actually only 225 km. from Cairo. Alexandria has a slow but very cheap tram system that dates back to 1860 and looks the part, it's the oldest one still running in Africa. Note that the first car (out of three) in the blue trams is reserved for women only. No taxi ride between any two points in the city should cost more than 25LE. Alternately, if you are on a day trip to Alexandria, hire a taxi outside the railway station for the day and pay LE 10-15 per place. E.g., if you plan to see 5 places in 3-4 hours, pay around LE 50-60 to the driver or LE 80-100 if you plan to see 8-10 places in 5-6 hours. US dollars are widely accepted especially in tourist areas. Baksheesh (tipping) is a common custom. Try to get some one pound coins (Egyptian) to tip toilet attendants. Tips in restaurant should be around 10% and toilet attendants should be given 3-5 LE or there are displays on the board for the payment of amount.
Laid out on a grid pattern, Alexandria occupied a stretch of land between the sea to the north and Lake Mareotis to the south, and north to the sheltering island of Pharos. On the east was the main harbour, called the Great Harbour, it faced the city's chief buildings, including the royal palace and the famous Library and Museum. At the Great Harbour’s mouth,stood the lighthouse, built in 280 BC. Now vanished, the lighthouse was reckoned as one of the Seven Wonders of the World for its unsurpassed height (about 460 feet), it was a square tower, topped with a metal fire basket and a statue of Zeus the Saviour. The Library, at that time the largest in the world, contained several hundred thousand volumes and housed and employed scholars and poets. A similar scholarly complex was the Museum. During Alexandria's brief literary golden period, 280–240 BC, it was a Cosmopolitan and flourishing city, Alexandria possessed a varied population of Greeks, Egyptians and other Oriental peoples, including a sizable minority of Jews, who had their own city quarter. The city enjoyed a calm political history under the Ptolemies. It passed, with the rest of Egypt, into Roman hands in 30 BC, and became the second city of the Roman Empire.
Dinocratis planned the city in squares, like a chessboard with two main streets interlaced vertically and horizontally extending from east to west as well as from north to south. Alexandria had 5 districts, each one named after a letter of the first five letters in the Greek Alphabet: A (Alpha); B (Beta); G (Gamma); D (Delta) and E (Epsilon). These 5 letters represent the initial letters of the text: "Alexander the king, the descendent of the gods, erected the city". Alpha was the royal district where the royal palaces, the main Temple, the museum, the libraries, and the gardens were built. Beta was the district of the Greek aristocracy. Gamma was dedicated to the settlement of the Greek commoners. Delta was the district of the foreign minorities such as the Syrians, the Persians, and the Jews. Epsilon was the district for the native Egyptians.
Drinking water was supplied by a canal starting from the western Canopic branch of the Nile, at a point called "Shedia" about 27 km to the south of Alexandria. The water was stored in Cisterns, some of which remain into modern times.
It is the second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria, known as "The Pearl of the Mediterranean", has an atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern, its ambience and cultural heritage distance it from the rest of the country although it is actually only 225 km. from Cairo. Alexandria has a slow but very cheap tram system that dates back to 1860 and looks the part, it's the oldest one still running in Africa. Note that the first car (out of three) in the blue trams is reserved for women only. No taxi ride between any two points in the city should cost more than 25LE. Alternately, if you are on a day trip to Alexandria, hire a taxi outside the railway station for the day and pay LE 10-15 per place. E.g., if you plan to see 5 places in 3-4 hours, pay around LE 50-60 to the driver or LE 80-100 if you plan to see 8-10 places in 5-6 hours. US dollars are widely accepted especially in tourist areas. Baksheesh (tipping) is a common custom. Try to get some one pound coins (Egyptian) to tip toilet attendants. Tips in restaurant should be around 10% and toilet attendants should be given 3-5 LE or there are displays on the board for the payment of amount.
CRUISE PORT-The cruise port of Alexandria is located approximately 4 kilometres from the city centre. Cruise ships dock at the large, modern cruise terminal. In order to leave the port, you must pass the customs and need your passport. In the centre a variety of transport can be found. You can choose to take a taxi from the cruise terminal. From the port you can visit Alexandria itself, or make an excursion to Cairo and / or the Pyramids of Giza. The cruise port of Alexandria consists of 2 harbours- East and West. Cruise ships will dock at the passenger marine terminal. There are very less amenities inside the terminal other than toilets but there is a large souvenir market outside.
HISTORY- Alexandria is a port city on the Mediterranean Sea in northern Egypt founded in 331 BCE by Alexander the Great. He decided that the small Egyptian port of Rhacotis will be a natural base for future operations in the eastern Mediterranean. It has a protective island, Pharos, a little way offshore and it is well placed for trade or warfare with the Middle East. Ptolemy recognizes in Alexandria the natural advantages which had attracted Alexander to the site. He makes it his capital and begins to transform it into one of the greatest centres of learning in the Greek world. The most famous in antiquity as the site of the Pharos, the great lighthouse, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The city grew to become the largest in the known world at the time, attracting scholars, scientists, philosophers, mathematicians, artists, and historians. Euclid teaches in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy. Archimedes (287-212 BCE) the great mathematician and astronomer may have taught there. Hero (also known as Heron, 10-70 CE) was born and lived in Alexandria. Hero was credited with amazing feats in engineering and technology including the first vending machine, the force-pump, and a theatre of automated figures who danced, among his inventions. The library, begun under Ptolemy I (305-285 BCE) and was completed by Ptolemy II (285-246 BCE) who sent invitations to rulers and scholars asking them to contribute books. “There was room for up to 70,000 papyrus scrolls. Following Caesar’s assassination in 44 BCE, his right-hand man, Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) became Cleopatra’s consort and left Rome for Alexandria. The city became his base of operations over the next thirteen years until he and Cleopatra were defeated by Octavian Caesar at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE. The next year, Cleopatra and Antony both committed suicide and, with her death, the Ptolemaic Dynasty came to an end.
Octavian became first emperor of Rome and took the title `Augustus’. Alexandria now became a simple province of the Roman Empire under the rule of Augustus Caesar. It was the greatest of the Roman provincial capitals, with a population of about 300,000 persons.
Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (272-337 AD) passed the Edict of Milan in 313 AD (decreeing religious tolerance), Christians were no longer liable for prosecution under the law and began to not only demand more religious rights, but more vociferously attack the pagans and the Jews. Alexandria, which had been a city of prosperity and learning, became an arena of religious contention between the new faith of the Christians and the old faith of the pagan majority. Alexandria rivalled Rome and Constantinople as a centre of Christian learning. It was the seat of a patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Christians increasingly felt bold enough to strike at the symbols of the old faith. In 391 AD the Christian Patriarch Theophilus followed Theodosius’ lead and had all the pagan temples in Alexandria destroyed or converted into churches. The Christian Byzantine Empire under Heraclius re-claimed the city in 628 AD but lost it to the invading Arab Muslims under Caliph Umar in 641 AD. The forces of the Christian Byzantines and the Muslim Arabs then fought for control of the city, and Egypt, until the Arabian forces prevailed in 646 AD and Egypt fell under Islamic rule. The churches were now destroyed or transformed into mosques and Christian legend claims that it was at this time that the great library was burned by the Muslim conquerors. The Arabs moved the capital of Egypt to Cairo in 969AD. During his Egyptian campaign, Napoleon I took the city in 1798AD, but it fell to the British in 1801AD. At that time Alexandria's population was only about 4,000. The city gradually regained importance after 1819AD, when the Mahmudiyah Canal to the Nile was completed by Muhammad Ali, who developed Alexandria as a deep-water port and a naval station.
The city grew to become the largest in the known world at the time, attracting scholars, scientists, philosophers, mathematicians, artists, and historians. Euclid teaches in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy. Archimedes (287-212 BCE) the great mathematician and astronomer may have taught there. Hero (also known as Heron, 10-70 CE) was born and lived in Alexandria. Hero was credited with amazing feats in engineering and technology including the first vending machine, the force-pump, and a theatre of automated figures who danced, among his inventions. The library, begun under Ptolemy I (305-285 BCE) and was completed by Ptolemy II (285-246 BCE) who sent invitations to rulers and scholars asking them to contribute books. “There was room for up to 70,000 papyrus scrolls. Following Caesar’s assassination in 44 BCE, his right-hand man, Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) became Cleopatra’s consort and left Rome for Alexandria. The city became his base of operations over the next thirteen years until he and Cleopatra were defeated by Octavian Caesar at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE. The next year, Cleopatra and Antony both committed suicide and, with her death, the Ptolemaic Dynasty came to an end.
Octavian became first emperor of Rome and took the title `Augustus’. Alexandria now became a simple province of the Roman Empire under the rule of Augustus Caesar. It was the greatest of the Roman provincial capitals, with a population of about 300,000 persons.
Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (272-337 AD) passed the Edict of Milan in 313 AD (decreeing religious tolerance), Christians were no longer liable for prosecution under the law and began to not only demand more religious rights, but more vociferously attack the pagans and the Jews. Alexandria, which had been a city of prosperity and learning, became an arena of religious contention between the new faith of the Christians and the old faith of the pagan majority. Alexandria rivalled Rome and Constantinople as a centre of Christian learning. It was the seat of a patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Christians increasingly felt bold enough to strike at the symbols of the old faith. In 391 AD the Christian Patriarch Theophilus followed Theodosius’ lead and had all the pagan temples in Alexandria destroyed or converted into churches. The Christian Byzantine Empire under Heraclius re-claimed the city in 628 AD but lost it to the invading Arab Muslims under Caliph Umar in 641 AD. The forces of the Christian Byzantines and the Muslim Arabs then fought for control of the city, and Egypt, until the Arabian forces prevailed in 646 AD and Egypt fell under Islamic rule. The churches were now destroyed or transformed into mosques and Christian legend claims that it was at this time that the great library was burned by the Muslim conquerors. The Arabs moved the capital of Egypt to Cairo in 969AD. During his Egyptian campaign, Napoleon I took the city in 1798AD, but it fell to the British in 1801AD. At that time Alexandria's population was only about 4,000. The city gradually regained importance after 1819AD, when the Mahmudiyah Canal to the Nile was completed by Muhammad Ali, who developed Alexandria as a deep-water port and a naval station.
CLEOPATRA- The Ptolemaic Kingdom was founded in 305 BC by Ptolemy I Soter, who declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt and created a powerful Hellenistic dynasty that ruled an area stretching from southern Syria to Cyrene and south to Nubia. Alexandria became the capital city and a major centre of Greek culture and trade. Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos, nicknamed Auletes died in 51 BC, leaving the kingdom to his ten-year-old son, Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator (Ist -Husband), who reigned jointly with his 17-year-old sister and wife, Cleopatra VII. When Cleopatra VII ascended the Egyptian throne, she was only eighteen. She reigned as Queen "Philopator" and Pharaoh between 51BC and 30 BC. Cleopatra and her brother/husband Ptolemy XIII were both attempting to gain control of Egypt's throne. Julius Caesar came to Alexandria in 48BC from Rome, where Cleopatra (she was only 22 year old) met him and asked for the support to remove Ptolemy XIII and he was defeated. In the summer of 47 BC, having married her younger brother Ptolemy XIV (IInd -Husband), Cleopatra embarked with Caesar for a two-month trip along the Nile. Together, they visited Dendara, where Cleopatra was being worshiped as Pharaoh and an honour beyond Caesar's reach. They became lovers (IIIrd- Lover), and she bore him a son, Caesarion, who was later proclaimed with many titles like king of kings. In 45 BC, Cleopatra and Caesarion left Alexandria for Rome, where they stayed in a palace built by Caesar in their honour. In 44 BC, Caesar was murdered in Rome by several Senators. With his death, Rome split between supporters of Mark Antony and Octavian. Cleopatra was watching in silence, and when Mark Antony seemed to prevail, she supported him and shortly after, they too became lovers (IVth -Lover). It was the boiling point when Octavian declared war on the "Foreign Queen". Octavian waited for a year before he claimed Egypt as a Roman province. He arrived in Alexandria and easily defeated Mark Antony outside the city, near present-day Camp César. Following this defeat, and facing certain death at the hands of Octavian, Antony committed suicide by falling on his own sword. Octavian entered Alexandria in 30 BC. Cleopatra was captured and taken to him, but Octavian had no interest in any relation, reconciliation, or even negotiation with the Egyptian Queen. Realizing that her end was close, she decided to put an end to her life. With the death of Cleopatra, the dynasty of Ptolemies came to an end. Alexandria remained capital of Egypt, but Egypt became a Roman province.
AIRPORT-Borg El Arab airport is set in the Borg el Arab desert and is now the principle airport for Alexandria due to recent closure of El Nozha airport in December 2011.It serves mainly destinations in the Middle-East and North Africa, but also Milano-Bergamo (Air Arabia), Athens (Egypt Air), Istanbul and Beyrouth. It's not very conveniently located some 45 km to the south-west of Alexandria. The passenger terminal is made up of 3 floors; the 1st floor for checking in and baggage handling, the 2nd houses arrivals and general airline offices and finally, the 3rd floor houses departures, a VIP hall and personnel which deal with immigration issues. Getting to and from the airport is a major concern as there are few affordable options to get to Alexandria. In most cases a taxi service will be needed.
POPULATION- 45,47,000
AREA - 2680KM2
COORDINATES - 31°12′N 29°55′E
TIME ZONE - UTC+2
CLIMATE-
TEM JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Av.H 18 19 21 24 26 28 30 30 30 28 24 20
Av.L 9 9 11 13 17 20 23 23 21 18 14 11
AREA - 2680KM2
COORDINATES - 31°12′N 29°55′E
TIME ZONE - UTC+2
CLIMATE-
TEM JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Av.H 18 19 21 24 26 28 30 30 30 28 24 20
Av.L 9 9 11 13 17 20 23 23 21 18 14 11
SIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS AT ALEXANDRIA -
001-MONTAZA PALACE COMPLEX– The Montaza Palace Complex is located at the Eastern edge of the city of Alexandria on the north coast of Egypt. It is a palace and extensive gardens in the Montaza district of Alexandria. It was built on a low plateau east of central Alexandria overlooking a beach on the Mediterranean Sea. The complex, which size ranges around 360 acre, overseas a gulf that was called Al Montaza Gulf. The Palace was built as a hunting lodge in the 1890s by Khedive Abbas Hilmi, it was later extended substantially by King Fuad and replaced Ras el-Tin Palace as the royal family's summer house. The complex first had the Salamlek Palace.
a-The Al-Montaza Park - The former expansive royal gardens of 150 acres (61 ha), are open as a public landscape park and forest reserve. The garden of which is 3000 meters wide contains a huge selection of trees and plants and some of them are quite rare. Some of the tropical plants are still in good shape although they have been planted more than 75 years ago. The complex contains five beaches for swimming: Aida, Cleopatra, Vanessa, Semiramis and the private beach of Helnan Palestine Hotel. All sorts of sea activity can be done in Montaza. One can ride a sea boat and take a ride around the complex or you can go water-skiing as well, diving, snorkelling, or even just chill out in front of the sea. Minibuses heading west up the shorefront Corniche road all pass by Montazah.
b-The El-Salamlek Hotel - H.M. Khedive Abbas Helmi II (the last Muhammad Ali Dynasty ruler) built the el-Salamlek Palace, located in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1892 as a hunting lodge for his Hangro-Austrian Mistress, Countess May-Torok von Szendro. It was surrounded by woods stocked with game for the hunting pleasure of the Khedive and his guests. During the reign of H.M. King Fouad I, son of H.M. Khedive Abbas Helmi II, El-Salamlek served as a guesthouse. And later, under the reign of King Farouk I, El-Salamlek became a summer office and guesthouse for the king's most valued guests. When the Palace was turned into the El Salamlek Palace Hotel and Casino, nine years were spent renovating and decorating in order to recreate the luxury and glamour of the Royal era of Egypt.
c- The Al-Haramlik Palace- The larger Al-Haramlik Palace and royal gardens were added to the Montaza Palace grounds, being built by King Fuad I in 1932, as a summer palace. It is in a mixture of Turkish and Florentine styles, with has two towers, one rising distinctively high above with elaborated Italian Renaissance design details. The palace has long open arcades facing the sea along each floor. Now the Al-Haramlik—Montaza Palace is a public museum of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty family history and objects of art.
d-Helena Palestine Hotel- Helnan Palestine Hotel is a hotel with a unique location overlooking the Montaza Royal beach and gardens. This is the hotel which was built inside one of the royal palaces that its ownership was transformed to the government after the Egyptian revolution. It stands just in front of the modern light house of Al Montazah. The hotel was built due to the orders of the former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser to host the first Arab Summit which was attended by all the Arab president and kings of the time. Afterwards, the hotel became the residence of most of the kings, queens, presidents, and important figures who visit Egypt. The hotel even hosted the visitors of Egypt at the event of the grand opening of the new Library of Alexandria. The list included, the French president Jack Shirak, Sofia the Queen of Spain, and the Queen Rania the wife of the king of Jordon. The hotel is the most favourite summer spot for some of Egypt's artists and authors as well. The hotel contains 233 rooms and all of them have sea or garden views. It also has 20 suites, two royal suites, and a villa which takes the whole space of the sixth floor of the hotel and it is suitable for large families and groups. The villa contains 6 rooms, special private kitchen, and a big reception hall.
a-The Al-Montaza Park - The former expansive royal gardens of 150 acres (61 ha), are open as a public landscape park and forest reserve. The garden of which is 3000 meters wide contains a huge selection of trees and plants and some of them are quite rare. Some of the tropical plants are still in good shape although they have been planted more than 75 years ago. The complex contains five beaches for swimming: Aida, Cleopatra, Vanessa, Semiramis and the private beach of Helnan Palestine Hotel. All sorts of sea activity can be done in Montaza. One can ride a sea boat and take a ride around the complex or you can go water-skiing as well, diving, snorkelling, or even just chill out in front of the sea. Minibuses heading west up the shorefront Corniche road all pass by Montazah.
b-The El-Salamlek Hotel - H.M. Khedive Abbas Helmi II (the last Muhammad Ali Dynasty ruler) built the el-Salamlek Palace, located in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1892 as a hunting lodge for his Hangro-Austrian Mistress, Countess May-Torok von Szendro. It was surrounded by woods stocked with game for the hunting pleasure of the Khedive and his guests. During the reign of H.M. King Fouad I, son of H.M. Khedive Abbas Helmi II, El-Salamlek served as a guesthouse. And later, under the reign of King Farouk I, El-Salamlek became a summer office and guesthouse for the king's most valued guests. When the Palace was turned into the El Salamlek Palace Hotel and Casino, nine years were spent renovating and decorating in order to recreate the luxury and glamour of the Royal era of Egypt.
c- The Al-Haramlik Palace- The larger Al-Haramlik Palace and royal gardens were added to the Montaza Palace grounds, being built by King Fuad I in 1932, as a summer palace. It is in a mixture of Turkish and Florentine styles, with has two towers, one rising distinctively high above with elaborated Italian Renaissance design details. The palace has long open arcades facing the sea along each floor. Now the Al-Haramlik—Montaza Palace is a public museum of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty family history and objects of art.
d-Helena Palestine Hotel- Helnan Palestine Hotel is a hotel with a unique location overlooking the Montaza Royal beach and gardens. This is the hotel which was built inside one of the royal palaces that its ownership was transformed to the government after the Egyptian revolution. It stands just in front of the modern light house of Al Montazah. The hotel was built due to the orders of the former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser to host the first Arab Summit which was attended by all the Arab president and kings of the time. Afterwards, the hotel became the residence of most of the kings, queens, presidents, and important figures who visit Egypt. The hotel even hosted the visitors of Egypt at the event of the grand opening of the new Library of Alexandria. The list included, the French president Jack Shirak, Sofia the Queen of Spain, and the Queen Rania the wife of the king of Jordon. The hotel is the most favourite summer spot for some of Egypt's artists and authors as well. The hotel contains 233 rooms and all of them have sea or garden views. It also has 20 suites, two royal suites, and a villa which takes the whole space of the sixth floor of the hotel and it is suitable for large families and groups. The villa contains 6 rooms, special private kitchen, and a big reception hall.
002- FORT QAITBEY- The Citadel is situated at the entrance of the eastern harbour on the eastern point of the Pharos Island. Sultan Qaitbey built this picturesque fortress during the 14th century to defend Alexandria from the advances of the Ottoman Empire and placed a Mosque inside it. His efforts were in vain since the Ottomans took control of Egypt in 1512.Qaitbey built the fortress here to take advantage of an existing foundation on the site—that of the legendary Pharos Lighthouse(one of the seven wonders of the world), which by the 14th century had fallen into ruins due to repeated damage by earthquakes. The citadel has long since given up any military function. Today it houses a small naval museum, but it might be worth a visit to explore the inside of the fortress and imagine the huge structure that once stood on its foundation. The peninsula leading to the citadel is also a popular area with fishermen and families alike. It is usually crowded with a pleasant crowd enjoying the sea views, restaurants and ice cream shops that line the street up to the fortress.
Fort Qaitbey Hours-
Open Everyday: 09:00 am - 04:00 pm
Preferred Everyday: 01:00 pm - 03:00 pm
Entry- Price: 15 EGP
Fort Qaitbey Hours-
Open Everyday: 09:00 am - 04:00 pm
Preferred Everyday: 01:00 pm - 03:00 pm
Entry- Price: 15 EGP
003- PHAROS LIGHTHOUSE OF ALEXANDRIA- It was one of the tallest man-made structures in the world for many centuries, and was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Badly damaged by three earthquakes between AD 956 and 1323, it then became an abandoned ruin.
Pharos Lighthouse stood on the eastern point of Pharos Island some distance from the city centre of Alexandria (now Fort Qaitbey stands). Ptolemy Soter was the ruler of Egypt who decided to build the lighthouse to guide sailors into the port. Constructed at the beginning of the third century BC(between 280BC and 247 BC) over a period of about twelve years and at an enormous cost and using considerable slave labour, Pharos Lighthouse was completed and inaugurated by the first Ptolemy's son, Ptolemy Philadelphus, in 283BC.
It was about 450 ft. tall. Prior to its destruction, it underwent a number of modifications by later rulers. The lowest level of the lighthouse was 100x100 feet and 240 feet high. The second level had eight sides and was about 115 feet tall. The third level was a 60 foot high cylinder that had an opening at the top to allow a space where the fire burned to light the way for sailors in the night. On top of this was a statue in honour of Poseidon, the god of the sea. At its apex was positioned a mirror which reflected sunlight during the day; a fire was lit at night.
The lighthouse continued to function until the time of the Arab conquest, then several disasters occurred and the shape of the lighthouse was changed to some extent, but it still continued to function. During the 11th century an earthquake occurred, causing damage to the octagonal part.
The bottom survived, but it could only serve as a watchtower, and a small Mosque was built on the top. In the 14th century there was a very destructive earthquake and the whole building was completely destroyed. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the longest surviving of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The second is the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (at Bodrum) and the Lighthouse of Alexandria was the third longest to survive. The light from the tower could be seen from almost 100 miles out to sea. In 1994 some of the remains of the lighthouse were discovered by French archaeologists in Alexandria's Eastern Harbour.
Today the city of Alexandria uses the symbol of the lighthouse on the flag of the Alexandria Governorate as well as on their seal. It also appears on the seal of Alexandria University.
Pharos Lighthouse stood on the eastern point of Pharos Island some distance from the city centre of Alexandria (now Fort Qaitbey stands). Ptolemy Soter was the ruler of Egypt who decided to build the lighthouse to guide sailors into the port. Constructed at the beginning of the third century BC(between 280BC and 247 BC) over a period of about twelve years and at an enormous cost and using considerable slave labour, Pharos Lighthouse was completed and inaugurated by the first Ptolemy's son, Ptolemy Philadelphus, in 283BC.
It was about 450 ft. tall. Prior to its destruction, it underwent a number of modifications by later rulers. The lowest level of the lighthouse was 100x100 feet and 240 feet high. The second level had eight sides and was about 115 feet tall. The third level was a 60 foot high cylinder that had an opening at the top to allow a space where the fire burned to light the way for sailors in the night. On top of this was a statue in honour of Poseidon, the god of the sea. At its apex was positioned a mirror which reflected sunlight during the day; a fire was lit at night.
The lighthouse continued to function until the time of the Arab conquest, then several disasters occurred and the shape of the lighthouse was changed to some extent, but it still continued to function. During the 11th century an earthquake occurred, causing damage to the octagonal part.
The bottom survived, but it could only serve as a watchtower, and a small Mosque was built on the top. In the 14th century there was a very destructive earthquake and the whole building was completely destroyed. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the longest surviving of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The second is the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (at Bodrum) and the Lighthouse of Alexandria was the third longest to survive. The light from the tower could be seen from almost 100 miles out to sea. In 1994 some of the remains of the lighthouse were discovered by French archaeologists in Alexandria's Eastern Harbour.
Today the city of Alexandria uses the symbol of the lighthouse on the flag of the Alexandria Governorate as well as on their seal. It also appears on the seal of Alexandria University.
004-THE LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA-The library of Alexandria had many names because of its greatness and the number and variety of books it contained. It was named "the royal library of Alexandria, the Grand Library, or the great library of Alexandria.
Ancient Library-The library acted as a major centre for science and culture for many centuries. The ancient library was built due to the orders of Ptolemy the second in the third century BC and it was said that it contained 700,000 books and it was the greatest library in the world at that time. This is besides the fact that many great scientists studied in the library like Archimedes.
The library of Alexandria became famous worldwide because it was the first public governmental library in history. There were many libraries in the times of the Pharos but it was exclusive for the priests of the temples and the royal family. The library contained the science, civilization, and books of two remarkable periods: The Pharonic and the Greek. The two civilizations of the west and east met in this great library through books and lectures that the library hosted and it was considered the first attempt for the modern concept of globalization.
Modern Library- The library was officially opened on the 17th of October 2002 at the location of the ancient library. Standing on the Alexandrian Corniche, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a vast and striking example of modern 21st century architecture, but the building recalls something much older. The oval shape of library from outside that is a symbol of the continuity of life as the sun comes out of the sea and goes from the highest point till the lowest point overlooking the sea. The library is sounded by a great wall that was made out of Aswan Granite and it contains writing and inscriptions in 120 languages. Its architecture - a giant sun disk, while inside, a huge reading room can hold eight million volumes. The design of the modern library of Alexandria consisted of four underground stores and six upper stores. The special shape of the modern library of Alexandria is considered a special architectural gem. The library itself boasts of a huge and visually stunning main reading room and space for storage of nearly 8 million books, but the complex also houses several smaller specialized libraries, a conference centre, art galleries for both permanent and temporary exhibitions, and a planetarium.
Opening-Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 in the morning till 7 in the afternoon. Friday and Saturday from 3 in the afternoon till 7. The library is closed on Tuesday.
Entry Ticket- EGP 10.00 (foreigners)
Ancient Library-The library acted as a major centre for science and culture for many centuries. The ancient library was built due to the orders of Ptolemy the second in the third century BC and it was said that it contained 700,000 books and it was the greatest library in the world at that time. This is besides the fact that many great scientists studied in the library like Archimedes.
The library of Alexandria became famous worldwide because it was the first public governmental library in history. There were many libraries in the times of the Pharos but it was exclusive for the priests of the temples and the royal family. The library contained the science, civilization, and books of two remarkable periods: The Pharonic and the Greek. The two civilizations of the west and east met in this great library through books and lectures that the library hosted and it was considered the first attempt for the modern concept of globalization.
Modern Library- The library was officially opened on the 17th of October 2002 at the location of the ancient library. Standing on the Alexandrian Corniche, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a vast and striking example of modern 21st century architecture, but the building recalls something much older. The oval shape of library from outside that is a symbol of the continuity of life as the sun comes out of the sea and goes from the highest point till the lowest point overlooking the sea. The library is sounded by a great wall that was made out of Aswan Granite and it contains writing and inscriptions in 120 languages. Its architecture - a giant sun disk, while inside, a huge reading room can hold eight million volumes. The design of the modern library of Alexandria consisted of four underground stores and six upper stores. The special shape of the modern library of Alexandria is considered a special architectural gem. The library itself boasts of a huge and visually stunning main reading room and space for storage of nearly 8 million books, but the complex also houses several smaller specialized libraries, a conference centre, art galleries for both permanent and temporary exhibitions, and a planetarium.
Opening-Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 in the morning till 7 in the afternoon. Friday and Saturday from 3 in the afternoon till 7. The library is closed on Tuesday.
Entry Ticket- EGP 10.00 (foreigners)
005- MOSQUE OF ABU AL-ABBAS AL-MURSI -This beautiful mosque, with its high minaret and four domes, is Alexandria's largest and one of the most important Islamic monuments. In 1775 the Algerians built the mosque over the tomb of the thirteenth century Andalusan Saint Ahmed Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi who had joined and then lead the Shadhali brotherhood. The interior is made up of eight monolithic granite columns and a colonnade of elongated arches. It was rebuilt in 1943 with the domes and the towering (73 meter) minaret. It is one of Alexandria's foremost religious buildings and women are not allowed inside the mosque proper, but may only visit a room at the back of the mosque.
Location- Midan el Masaged (Mosque Square).
Location- Midan el Masaged (Mosque Square).
006- POMPEY'S PILLAR (COLUMN) IN ALEXANDRIA - Pompey’s Pillar is a Roman triumphal column. The so-called "Pompey Pillar" is the biggest memorial column in Egypt. It is a huge column of red granite, its total height is about 28 m with a diameter at the base of 2.7 m, and towards the capital at the top it tapers to 2.3 m. The column rises out of the sparse ruins of the Temple of Serapeum, a magnificent structure that stood here in ancient times. It was erected in AD 291 to support a statue of the emperor Diocletian. Contrary to popular belief, the pillar did not belong to the great Roman leader, Pompey, but was erected during the Greco-Roman period by the people of Alexandria to honour the Emperor Diocletian. An inscription on the pillar reads: “To the right and good emperor, the protector god of Alexandria, Diocletian, who has never been beaten. Therefore Postumus constructed this pillar.”
Legend- Legend has it, however, that when Pompey was defeated by Julius Caesar (Rome) and escaped Rome for Egypt, only to be killed in Alexandria, his head was placed in a funerary jar on top of the pillar’s capital, thus earning the monument its famous name.
Pompey’s pillar stands in the centre of the temple hall of the Serapeum, the principal temple of the Greco-Egyptian god Serapis, personified by the sacred Apis bull. Underneath the column, steps lead downwards to the great temple of Serapis, the god of Alexandria. Also here was the ‘daughter library’ of the Great Library of Alexandria, which was said to have contained copies and overflow of texts. In AD 391 Christians launched a final assault on pagan intellectuals and destroyed the Serapeum and its library, leaving just the lonely pillar standing.
Serapeum- On the backside, there is the remains of a Serapium, or a temple of the God Serapis, now badly damaged. It was built during the reigns of Ptolemy II and Ptolemy III, but was damaged due to the revolts of the Jewish population in Alexandria, during the reign of the Emperor Trajan (89-118 A.D). It was rebuilt again during the reign of Hadrian (117-137 A.D).
Entrance-10EGP
Legend- Legend has it, however, that when Pompey was defeated by Julius Caesar (Rome) and escaped Rome for Egypt, only to be killed in Alexandria, his head was placed in a funerary jar on top of the pillar’s capital, thus earning the monument its famous name.
Pompey’s pillar stands in the centre of the temple hall of the Serapeum, the principal temple of the Greco-Egyptian god Serapis, personified by the sacred Apis bull. Underneath the column, steps lead downwards to the great temple of Serapis, the god of Alexandria. Also here was the ‘daughter library’ of the Great Library of Alexandria, which was said to have contained copies and overflow of texts. In AD 391 Christians launched a final assault on pagan intellectuals and destroyed the Serapeum and its library, leaving just the lonely pillar standing.
Serapeum- On the backside, there is the remains of a Serapium, or a temple of the God Serapis, now badly damaged. It was built during the reigns of Ptolemy II and Ptolemy III, but was damaged due to the revolts of the Jewish population in Alexandria, during the reign of the Emperor Trajan (89-118 A.D). It was rebuilt again during the reign of Hadrian (117-137 A.D).
Entrance-10EGP
007-CATACOMBS OF KOM EL-SHUQQAFA-Situated just to the west of Pompy's Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom El Shuqafa is the largest and most important burial site dating back to the Greco Roman period in Egypt. Archaeologists believe that the Catacomb of Kom el Shoqafa was started in the 2nd century A.D. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Kom El Shuqafa, meaning the hill of treasures in the Arabic language, was unearthed by coincidence in the beginning of the 20th century. Dating back to the 2nd century AD, this necropolis was dug inside the rock to a depth of 35 meters (115 feet) and it consists of three levels, all located under the ground level. However, due to the flooding that occurred in this area, the lowest level in now inaccessible. Go down a winding stairway to see how deep the ancient Greco-Romans tunnelled into the bedrock. Initially built for a single wealthy family practicing a fusion of Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman religion, the Catacombs of Kom el-Shouqafa entombed over 300 mummies. See bearded serpents crowned with the crowns of upper and lower Egypt, the hovering solar disc above the archway and customary funerary deities joined with Greco-Roman motifs.
Opening Hours- 09:00- 17:00
Ticket - 35 EGP
Opening Hours- 09:00- 17:00
Ticket - 35 EGP
008- ROMAN THEATRE/ KOM EL-DIKKA - The Roman Amphitheatre of Alexandria, which is considered to be one of the most important Roman architectural achievements in Egypt, was discovered by mere coincidence in the year 1960.When the workers went to remove a pile of dust and sand in 1960 in order to clear the land and construct a governmental building, they found some solid iron columns while digging into the ground and this made them know for certain that there is an architectural entity below the ground. Theatre was used as an odeum where musical shows were performed during the Roman period. The theatre, at the time, had all the elements to host perfect performance like the dome that once stood over the stage and the section of the orchestra. The Roman Amphitheatre was constructed in the 4th century AD. The audience section of the Roman Amphitheatre has a diameter of about 33 meters and it consists of 13 rows made of European white marble with the uppermost part being a portico made out of Granite columns that were brought from Aswan and some of them are still standing until today.
009-CORNICE-It is a waterfront promenade running along the Eastern Harbour for ten miles. Italian Egyptian architect Pietro Avoscani designed it in 1870. Downtown of Alexandria's wide waterfront road is as much a symbol of the city as any of its monuments. It's here that you get a real feel for the era of cosmopolitan elegance and decadence that marked this city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Much of the architecture from this era still stands along the Corniche, though these days, much of it is heavily dilapidated and falling into disrepair. During your visit see the colonial remnants of the Cecil Hotel and Windsor Palace Hotel that are still the key harbour-side addresses for visitors who want to see in bygone-days ambience. The Cecil played host to Winston Churchill and the British Secret Service during WWII, and both hotels have endeavoured to restore and keep much of their original charm. The western end starts by the Citadel of Qaitbay and runs for over ten miles and ends by the Montaza Palace.
010-STANLEY BRIDGE ALEXANDRIA- The Stanley Bridge is the bridge over Stanley Bay along the Cornice.The bridge was built to enlarge the corniche since a narrow two-way road was causing too much traffic in the area. Below the bridge is Stanley Bay, a beach with cabins. Instead of destroying this popular beach, the then governor of Alexandria decided it was best to create a 400 meter bridge out on the Mediterranean sea. The two towers on the side of the sea have a small opening that looks out onto the water below. Stanley Bridge has four towers, modelled to compliment the Islamic design of the royal palace in Montaza. It also includes the Stanley Beach with three levels of beach cabins. Go ahead, walk along the corniche, see the Alexandrian lifestyle and old men playing backgammon and youngsters enjoying the Alexandrian night skyline from a nearby café. There are plenty of local and international cafes in the area. There is an underpass for pedestrians near Stanley Bridge, so it is safe to cross to the other side. On the other side there are several coffee shops and restaurants, including a Costa coffee shop and a McDonald’s, where you can sit and enjoy a panoramic view of the bridge. This is located close to Saba Pasha area in Alexandria.
011- ALEXANDRIA NATIONAL MUSEUM-The museum is located in the Horeya Street and the building of the museum was the residence of a former wood trading business man Asa'ad Basily, who constructed his villa which was built over an area of 3480 meters in the Italian style. The palace was a popular gathering place for many of the high level people in the 30s and 40s of the last century. Basily lived in this house until 1953 and then he sold it to the American Embassy. Until the supreme council of antiquities bought it in 1996 and then it was transmitted into a museum by the beginning of the third millennium. The museum was first open to public in September 2002 and the museum displays more than 1800 items from different eras: Pharonic, Ptolemaic which flourished greatly in Alexandria, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic. The first floor of the museum contains the Pharonic items including a lot of statues of different ancient Egyptian rulers and gods and very interesting portraits of Menkaure, Ikhnaton, and Hatshepsut. The most interesting section in the Alexandria National Museum is the section that displays antiquities that were found under the sea in Alexandria. The museum also displays live pictures of how these items were pulled out of the sea. This section includes a black bronze statue of Isis, some portraits and statues of Greek gods which includes an interesting statue of the head of Alexander the Great and another for Venus, the goddess of love.
012- ROYAL JEWELLERY MUSEUM- Royal Jewellery Museum of Alexandria is reopened to tourists since April 2010. Housed in an exquisitely decorated villa that formerly belonged to king Farouk’s first wife, the museum is a true gem, offering on display a great collection of glitzy artefacts that belonged to the excessive and extravagant Egyptian monarch and his family.
Opening Hours: 09:00 - 17:00
Ticket Price:-Regular: 40 EGP
Opening Hours: 09:00 - 17:00
Ticket Price:-Regular: 40 EGP
013- RAS EL-TIN PALACE- Ras el-Tin Palace was once a summer escape for Egypt's sultans when the desert heat of Cairo got too much to bear. It's also the famed location where King Farouk - Egypt's last king - officially abdicated in 1952 before sailing out of Alexandria's harbour and into exile in Italy. It was here that King Farouk signed his abdication papers in 1952.Today, the palace is used by the Egyptian navy, which means its glorious interiors are out of bounds to casual visitors, but the monumental white facade, best seen from the harbour waters, is a must-see. Ras el–Tin Palace is one of the official residences of the President of Egypt. Under the Muhammad Ali Dynasty of Egypt and Sudan, it was a royal palace. Ras el–Tin Palace is the oldest royal Egyptian palace still in use.
014-MONUMENT OF THE UNKNOWN NAVY SOLDIER-A memorial dedicated to the unknown soldiers who lost their lives in the sea battles, it is present on the sea shore at the Corniche of Alexandria.
015-SAN STEFANO GRAND PLAZA- It is a structural complex including a Four Seasons Hotel, apartments, offices, a shopping mall.
PRESENTED BY - V.P. GUPTA
PRESENTED BY - V.P. GUPTA