Alexandria
Fast Facts
Location: North-central Egypt
Established: 334 B.C.
Best Time to Visit: Autumn and spring
Getting there: Alexandria is easily accessible by air, train or bus. Most of the travelers prefer to come via Cairo, the capital city of the country. The city has 2 airports in the immediate vicinity, namely El Nouzha Airport and Borg el Arab Airport. Frequent trains are available from Ramses Station to get to Alexandria. Apart from them, a number of bus companies offer a bus service into Alexandria within affordable range.
Nearest airport: El Nouzha Airport and Borg el Arab Airport
Nearest rail station: Misr Station
The Chinese invented it, and the Egyptians perfected it at Alexandria centuries later. No, it is nothing to do with astronomy, hieroglyphs, architecture or anything from that old bag of historical wonders. It is something living, thriving, and constantly re-inventing itself – ice-cream. Alexandrian ice-cream is different from your usual confectionary fare, it is a bit stretchy and comes in a number of flavors. What's more, you will not get this type of ice-cream outside Alexandria and Greece. Bahary near the Qait Bey has a number of parlors that trade in this kind of ice creams.
For the records, though, the large cosmopolitan port city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea was the main center of learning in the Ancient World and even under Cleopatra's rule it surpassed the great cities of Athens and Rome. Named after Alexander the Great, the city of Alexandria is also known as “the Pearl of the Mediterranean”.
Alexandria, Egypt, after a long phase of decline, became nothing more than a fishing village with a glorious history. The city, in the 19th century, grew in stature as a significant port and commercial hub. At all points of its history, Alexandria has always been popular as a vacation destination for the travelers looking to escape the scorching heat of summer and enjoy the fantastic Mediterranean beaches. It is one of the most notable summer resorts in the Middle East, visited by huge number of tourists to enjoy the perfect combination of sun and sea.
What to see
Alexandria is teeming with historical interest and ancient tourist attractions, especially the ruins left over from the glorious past of the city under Roman rule. A visit to Alexandria will include the following tourist attractions:
- Abou el-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque: The mosque was built over the tomb of the 13th century Sufi saint Andalusan Murcia, Ahmed Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi by Algerians in 1775.
- Alexandria National Museum: With more than 1800 archaeological collections exhibited chronologically, the basement of the museum is dedicated to Prehistoric and Pharonic times; the 1st floor to the Graeco-Roman period; the 2nd floor to the Coptic and Islamic era that draws attention to the artifacts raised during recent underwater excavations.
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina: The huge library and research center, equipped with all the facilities, was built on the site of the former Library of Alexandria. In addition to them, it also features a big conference center and a planetarium.
- Corniche: The Corniche is a wonderful walkway along the harbor. Covering a distance of around 15 kilometers, the area is dotted with a number of restaurants, markets and historic sights.
- Cemetery of Mostafa Kamel: Bearing the name of Mostafa Kamel, one of the famous political personalities of Egypt, the cemetery features 4 tombs, dating from the 2nd century B.C.
- Citadel of Qait Bey: The fortress, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the city itself, is one of the most distinctive symbols of the city. The citadel was built by Sultan Qaitbey in 1480 on the site of the Pharos Lighthouse, in order to defend the city from the crusaders.
- Graeco-Roman Museum: The museum with a treasured collection most of which dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D., covers the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.
- Montaza Palace: It was built in 1892 by Abbas II of Egypt Abbas Hilmi Pasha, the last khedive of Egypt. One of the palace buildings, the Haramlek, now houses a casino on the ground floor and a museum of royal relics on the upper levels, while the Salamlek has been transformed into a luxury hotel.
- Pompey's Pillar: The monument was built in memory of the Emperor Diocletian in A.D. 297. The confined area where the column stands features other ruins and sculptures.
- Roman Catacombs: The stunning set of catacombs with a fascinating blend of Roman and Egyptian iconography is a must-see in Alexandria.
Scenic beaches
The beaches of Alexandria enjoy the warmth of the sun even in the winter months. The sun invites you to enjoy the mild winter, far away from the freezing snow. Some of the popular sand beaches of the city are Assafra, Maamoura, Mandara, Miami, Montazah, Roushdy, San Stefano.
Things to do
With its diverse attractions as well as endless entertainment facilities, the city offers several things to do. You will surely enjoy the experience of sunbathing at the Maa'moura Beach or Montaza Beach or cruising at Ras el-Tin. If you want a leisurely walk, you may go for a relaxing stroll by the beautiful Corniche by the Mediterranean Sea.
Shopping
Apart from sightseeing, shopping in Alexandria is also a major pastime for travelers. The shopping centers offer wide variety of products. Some of the popular shopping hubs include Carrefour City Center, Family Mall, Green Plaza, Mirage Mall, San Stefano Grand Plaza Mall, Wataniyya Mall, Zahran Mall.
Places to stay
The city of Alexandria offers a wide selection of accommodation, starting from the budget and economy type hotels up to luxury hotels and resorts. Some of the popular luxury hotels include El-Salamlek Palace, Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza, Renaissance Alexandria, Sheraton Montazah, Sofitel Cecil Alexandria while Hotel Delta, Holiday Hotel, Nile Excelsior Hotel, Normandy Hotel, Hotel Union can be the ideal choice for them to whom budget is the main priority. Alexandria is famous all over the world for having the finest seafood restaurants. You will also enjoy the dynamic nightlife of the city. Alexandria nightlife would be incomplete without a visit to the bars, nightclubs, pubs and casinos that are scattered all over the city.
Since the beginning of the 19th century, Alexandria has become one of the most important commercial hub and maritime expansion of Egypt. Lawrence Durrell has rightly described Alexandria as “the capital city of Asiatic Europe, if such a thing could exist”.
Related Links :
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=gD9KXzqZUd0&feature=related: No view of an Oriental city is complete without a visit to the colorful bazaars and market places. Check out the vibrancy of the city from this video!
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=q17stM0GLfw&feature=related: Another wonderful view of Alexandria. Enjoy!
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-city/Egypt/Alexandria/tpod.html: For wonderful travel accounts to Alexandria from real travelers, click on this link!
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