Alexandria
is the second largest city of Egypt and is known as the pearl of the Mediterranean. It was built by the orders of Alexander the Great around 331 B.C. and became the capital of Greco-Roman Egypt; its status as a beacon of culture is symbolized by Pharos, the legendry lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The setting for the relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Alexandria was also the center of learning in the ancient world. But ancient Alexandria declined, and when Napoleon landed he found a sparsely populated fishing village.
Since the 19th century Alexandria has become the focus for Egypt's commercial and maritime expansion. Immigrants from Greece and Italy have settled here and made the city synonymous with commerce, cosmopolitanism and bohemian culture. Lawrence Durrell described it as " the capital city of Asiatic Europe, if such a thing could exist."
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The Roman Amphitheater
Over 30 years of excavation have led to the discovery of many Roman remains including this well-preserved theater with marble seats for up to 800 spectators, galleries and sections of mosaic-flooring. In Ptolemaic times this are was the Park of Pan, a pleasure garden surrounded by Roman villas and baths.
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The Graeco-Roman Museum
The collection, which covers the period from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century AD, is a fascinating record of a civilization in the process of change as religions merged and society evolved. In Alexandria, Graeco-Roman and pharaonic religions mingled in the cult of Serapis. The shift from pagan religions to Christianity can also be seen in the exhibits which include mummies, Hellenistic statues, busts of Roman emperors, Tanagra figurines and early Christian antiquities. (Optional Tour)
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The Bibliotheca Alexandrina
is a major library and cultural center located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It is both a commemoration of the old Libraray of Alexandria that was lost in antiquity and an attempt to rekindle something of the brilliance that this earlier center of study and erudition represented. It was designed by Christoph Kapellar
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The Roman Catacombs
The catacombs are Roman graves with three levels in each tomb, the lowest of which is constantly under water due to the ground water. This cemetery dates back to the 1st century A.D and it was used until the 4th century A.D. It was discovered in 1900, when by pure chance a donkey drawn cart fell into a pit, which led to the discovery. The word Catacomb means underground tunnels. Most likely it was a private tomb and later converted to a public cemetery. It consists of 3 levels cut into the rock, a staircase, a rotunda, the triclinium or banquette hall, a vestibule, an antechamber and the burial chamber with three recesses In, where in each recess there is a sarcophagus.
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Citadel
in Alexandria is considered one of the most important defensive strongholds not only in Egypt but also on the Mediterranean Sea coast. It formulated an important part of the fortification system of Alexandria in the 15th century AD. This citadel was established by the sultan Al Ashraf Abou Alnasr Seif Eldin Qaitbay Alzahiry. Qagmas Al-Eshaqy was the architect of this Citadel.
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The citadel is situated at the entrance of the eastern harbor on the eastern point of the Pharos Island. It was erected on the exact site of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria which was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. This lighthouse continued to function even throughout the time of the Arab conquest.
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