Discover Alexandria: Antiquity, museums and the Mediterranean

Alexandria tells its story in very different places: a citadel stands on the site of the ancient lighthouse, a Roman theatre is part of an archaeological area in the city centre, and museums preserve royal collections as well as evidence of Alexandria’s past. There is also the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, with its large main library and views of the Mediterranean. Which of these aspects you choose to focus on during your trip may also influence where you stay.

The Citadel of Qaitbay and the lighthouse site

Built in the 15th century, the Citadel of Qaitbay was intended to protect the coastal city from attacks from outside. It was constructed on the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The main tower houses a hall with the citadel’s visitor centre. There, nine bilingual panels in Arabic and English provide information, complemented by maps and explanatory diagrams. A film explores the ancient lighthouse site, and seating is available for visitors.

This site thus connects the history of coastal defence with the memory of an earlier landmark that helped people find their way in the city. If you are particularly interested in the citadel and the lighthouse, you can make these themes a priority when planning your trip. The visitor centre’s features offer a distinct way to explore them: from the historic site to maps, diagrams and the film.

Royal collections and Alexandria’s museums

The Royal Jewelry Museum displays items from the Egyptian royal family’s collection. It is housed in a palace built in 1919 in Zizinya, Alexandria. European and Islamic architectural styles come together in the building. The collection on display and the palace’s architecture thus offer different aspects of the same museum to discover.

The Graeco-Roman Museum offers a different historical perspective. It was first opened in 1892, during the reign of Khedive Abbas Helmi II, to preserve artefacts found in Alexandria. The Cavafy Museum, in turn, displays numerous documents and manuscripts by Constantine Cavafy. If you organise your trip around your interests, you can distinguish between royal collections, Greco-Roman artefacts and literary documents, rather than treating all the museums as similar stops.

Roman traces and ancient burial practices

The archaeological area of Kom al-Dikka in central Alexandria includes Egypt’s only Roman theatre of its kind. The well-preserved amphitheatre lies in the heart of the city. The Roman theatre complex also includes public baths, lecture halls and a villa decorated with mosaics. These different features give the site more than one focus: theatre, baths, learning and the villa’s mosaics are all topics to explore when visiting the area.

Pompey’s Pillar offers a different perspective. The 28-metre-high red granite pillar comes from Aswan and is dedicated to the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The Catacombs of Kom al-Shuqafa offer insight into ancient burial rites and practices. If you are interested in archaeological evidence, these examples differ considerably in form: the pillar, theatre complex and catacombs represent different ways of engaging with the past.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina and city culture

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is located in Al-Shatbi, Alexandria’s academic centre. Its main library has space for up to eight million books; the Bibliotheca also includes four museums and a planetarium. A spacious outdoor plaza offers views of the Mediterranean. The library, museums and planetarium make this a destination in its own right for travellers who want to include knowledge and culture in their time in Alexandria.

The villa and gardens of Antoniadis offer another perspective on the city’s history. Dating from the 19th century, they were designed after a miniature version of Versailles in France. Together with the museums and archaeological sites, these grounds show the variety of themes you can use to shape your trip. If you are planning to travel with children, it helps to consider in advance whether historic buildings, collections, ancient sites, or the library and planetarium best match your shared interests. When looking for a holiday apartment in Alexandria, it makes sense to consider the focus of your trip without grouping individual places into a single tour.

More destination pages: Sidi Kreir, ADH Dheraa Al Bahri, ‘Izbat Al ‘Ulā and Al Wādī.

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