Alexandria City

Alexandria City

Alexandria played a vital role in ancient history. It was connected to famous leaders like Alexander the Great and Cleopatra, Egypt’s last active pharaoh. Alexander himself founded Alexandria city in 332 BC. He intended it to be the heart of Hellenistic civilization. The city was important for spreading Hellenic culture throughout the Mediterranean.

For almost a thousand years, Alexandria was Egypt’s capital. This was during the Ptolemaic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. The city lost its status when the Muslim invasion occurred in 641 AD. At that time, the city of Fustat became the new capital.

Location and Economy of Alexandria city

Alexandria city is Egypt’s second-largest city, after Cairo. It has a population of 3.5 million people and covers 2,679 square kilometers. The city stretches 32 kilometers along the Mediterranean Sea’s coast. It is 138 kilometers northwest of Cairo.

Alexandria’s climate is pleasant year-round. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are wet. The city produces two-fifths of Egypt’s industrial output. Culturally, it is a showcase for art and beauty.

History and Attractions

Alexandria is a popular tourist destination because of its many magnificent monuments. Alexander the Great built the city in 331 BCE. He built it on a settlement called Racotis after visiting the Amun Temple in Siwa. He hired his chief architect, Dinocrates, to build a city that would reflect his vision.

One of its most famous landmarks was the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The Ptolemaic dynasty built it in 280 BC. It was 120-137 meters tall, making it the second-highest structure after the pyramids. Unfortunately, a series of earthquakes between 1303 and 1323 AD destroyed it. In 1477 AD, Sultan Quitbay built a fortress on the same site using the lighthouse’s blocks. It was meant to protect the city from naval invasions.

The city also has the Catacombs, which served as a final resting place for a Greek noble family. They are famous for blending Greek and Egyptian art.

Points of Interest

Alexandria was once known for its diverse population, including the world’s largest Jewish community. It also had the first Greek translation of the Hebrew sacred text.

The ancient Library of Alexandria was a hub for art and science. It held millions of scrolls and volumes. The Ptolemaic dynasty built it in the 3rd century BC. It was destroyed by fire in 48 BC. In 2002, a new library, Bibliotheca Alexandria, was built to honor the original.

The Pillar of Pompey, the tallest of its kind outside Rome, shows the city’s power under Roman rule. The Serapeum of Alexandria is an ancient Greek temple built by Ptolemy III. It was dedicated to the Greco-Roman god Serapis.

Later, the Mamluk and Fatimid dynasties transformed Alexandria into a naval and shipping port. The famous El-Mursi Abul Abbas Mosque is near the Citadel of Qaitbay. It honors the Sufi saint Abul Abbas al-Mursi.

Alexandria lost its splendor under Ottoman rule. However, it regained its charm during Muhammad Ali’s reign in 1805. It became one of the world’s most appealing locations once again.

Top-rated attractions and things to do in Alexandria

Egypt is a great place to visit for vacations

Check out our Egypt tour packages and book one of our Egypt tours to see Alexandria and some of the country’s most iconic attractions.

FUN
FUN
FUN
FUN
FUN
Magical White Desert Camping Adventure starting from Cairo...
12 Day Egypt Tour Package of Cairo, Alexandria, and Sharm...
FUN

Day Trip to Alexandria

An enjoyable drive from Cairo to Alexandria. It was an enriching trip. I learnt so much history about the ancient civilisation. The tour guide explained the history of each site we visited. There is so much to see. I would definitely highly recommend visiting Alexandria. It’s rich in history. The

More »
Cairo layover tour - pyramids tour from the airport - Pyramids and GEM Tour from Cairo Airport

Layover tour of Cairo Pyramids

On a recent trip, I had 8 hours from the time I landed in Cairo to when my next flight was scheduled to leave. Luckily, I arrived in the morning and left in the afternoon, so, not being one to sit around an airport for 8 hours, I visited the

More »

Outstanding layover tour

I had the opportunity to do a layover tour with Egypt Fun Tours this Friday, and it was amazing. I had a 10-hour layover tour in Cairo, and I was met by Mohamed on time at the airport. He picked me up in a clean, new, safe, and comfortable van.

More »

What an amazing day!

I had a 12 hour layover on my way to Dar es Salaam and wanted to take full advantage of my time in Cairo. After researching for many hours, I came across Egypt Fun Tours and emailed for more information. I received a prompt reply with full details of several

More »
Pyramids and GEM Tour from Cairo Airport

Layover Tour in Cairo

This August, my boyfriend and I had quite a long layover in Cairo, 9 hours to be exact. Instead of wasting our time at the airport, we decided to do a layover tour of the city. I had been before, but my boyfriend hadn’t, so we wanted to hit the

More »
Isis with wings

Top-rated Tour Packages

Isis with wings