Alexandria

Historical monuments

historical monuments
Citadel of Qaitbay
Ras el-Tin
+20-3-4809144
LE 25, LE 15 (student)
9AM-4PM
yellow tram #25

One of the icons of the city at a beautiful location, the fortress overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and the city itself. Built by Mameluke Sultan Abdul-Nasser Qa'it Bay in 1477 AD but razed and reconstructed twice since.This citadel was built in 1480 by Sultan Qaitbay on the site of the Pharos Lighthouse, to protect the city from the crusaders who used to attack the city by sea. 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. The lighthouse continued to function until the time of the Arab conquest, then several disasters occurred and the shape of lighthouse was changed to some extent, but it still continued to function. During the 11thcentury an earthquake destroyed the top of the lighthouse and the bottom was used as a watchtower. A small Mosque was built on the top. About 1480 A.D the place was fortified as part of the coastal defensive edifices. Later castle looking citadel was built as a prison for princes and state-man. Now it’s a Maritime Museum.

historical monuments
Roman Theatre
Kom El-Dikka
+20-3-3902904
LE 15 foreigner/2 Egyptian

Built in the 2nd century AD, this Roman amphitheater has 13 semicircular tiers made of white and gray marble, with marble seats for up to 800 spectators, galleries and sections of mosaic-flooring. In Ptolemaic times this area was the Park of Pan, a pleasure garden surrounded by Roman villas and baths.

historical monuments
Montazah Palace
El Montazah
+20-3-5477153 or +20-3- 5473056
LE 5

Built in 1892 by Abbas II of Egypt Abbas Hilmi Pasha, the last khedive of Egypt. One of the palace buildings, the Haramlek, now contains a casino on the ground floor and a museum of royal relics on the upper levels, while the Salamlek has been converted into a luxury hotel see Sleep. Parts of the extensive gardens over 200 acres are open to the public. There is a entrance fee for the park.

historical monuments
Ras el-Tin Palace
Ras el-Tin

Not open to visitors, alas.

historical monuments
Cemetery of Mostafa Kamel

The cemetery includes four tombs dating from the second century BC, all of which are in excellent condition and beautifully decorated. The cemetery bears the name of Mostafa Kamel, one of Egypt's largest political twentieth century legends. It was he who pronounced the famous phrase: "If I was not born as an Egyptian, I would like to be an Egyptian."

historical monuments
Kom el-Shouqafa
Karmouz
Catacombs- LE 35, LE 20 (student).

Kom el-Shouqafa is the Arab translation of the ancient Greek name, Lofus Kiramaikos, meaning "mound of shards" or "potsherds." Its actual ancient Egyptian name was Ra-Qedillies, and it lies on the site where the village and fishing port of Rhakotis, the oldest part of Alexandria that predates Alexander the Great, was located. The underground tunnels of the catacombs lie in the densely populated district of Karmouz to the east of Alexandria. The catacombs were most probably used as a private tomb, for a single wealthy family, and later converted to a public cemetery. They are composed of a ground level construction that probably served as a funerary chapel, a deep spiral stairway and three underground levels for the funerary ritual and entombment. The catacombs are unique both for their plan and for their decoration, which represents an integration of the cultures and traditions of the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans."

historical monuments
Pompey's Pillar
Karmouz
LE 20, LE 15 (student)

An ancient monument, this 25-meter-high granite column was constructed in honor of the Emperor Diocletian in AD 297. The confined area where the column stands also has other ruins and sculptures such as the Serapium oracle. Also beside this area is a very big shopping center for cloth and furniture called "El-Saa3a," where you can find many types of cloth or clothes.

historical monuments
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Mansheya

Egypt has a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honoring it's military.

historical monuments
Presidential Palace
Montazah

Museums

museums
Alexandria National Museum
Latin quarter
+20-3-4835519 or +20-3- 4838035

.History Museum with more than 1800 archaeological pieces exhibited chronologically: the basement is devoted to Prehistoric and Pharonic times; first floor to the Graeco-Roman period; second floor to the Coptic and Islamic era that highlights artifacts raised during recent underwater excavations.

museums
Royal Jewelry Museum
zezenia
+20-3-5828348

It contains a lot of royal and precious jewels. It has been reopened to the public recently after renovation.

museums
Graeco-Roman Museum
Latin quarter
+20-3-4865820 or +20-3-4876434
Closed

A history museum with a vast collection mostly dating from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD, spanning the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Closed for renovation since 2008

museums
Museum of Fine Arts
Moharram Bey
+20-3-3936616

It contains a lot of royal and precious jewels.

museums
National Institute For Oceanography & Fisheries
Anfoushi
+20-3-4801499
beside Qait Bey

Aquarium and museum displays.

Modern alexandria

modern alexandria
Corniche

The Corniche is a glorious 15km walkway wharf/pier/boardwalk along the harbour dotted with restaurants, markets and historic sights.

modern alexandria
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Shatby
+20-3-4839999
LE 10 (non-Egyptians), LE 5 (student)
Open daily except Tuesday 11 AM to 7:00 PM, but opens only at 3 PM on Friday and Saturday

A huge modern library and research center constructed on the site of the former Library of Alexandria see History. It has also a big conference center and a planetarium, as well as displays of ancient texts from the collection LE 40 and other special exhibitions free.

Religious sites

religious sites
El-Mursi Abul-Abbas Mosque
Anfoushi

Built in 1775 by Algerians, the mosque was built over the tomb of the famous thirteenth century sufi saint, Ahmed Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi . The walls of the mosque are dressed in artificial stone, while the minaret, located on the south side, stands at 73 metres.

religious sites
Attarine Mosque
Attarine

Originally a church dedicated to the Saint Athanasius in 370 and was converted into a mosque following the Muslim conquest of Egypt.