Bibliotheca Alexandrina: The Reborn Wonder of the World

1. The Great Reading Hall

This is the “wow” moment. As you step into the main reading hall, your jaw will drop. It is one of the largest and most breathtaking reading rooms on Earth.

• A Cascading Waterfall of Knowledge: The room spans 11 cascading levels, with space for 8 million books. It’s a vast, open, 20,000-square-meter space that feels like a modern cathedral dedicated to learning.
• A Feat of Engineering: Look up! The spectacular, 36-meter-high glass roof is angled to face north. This brilliant design fills the entire hall with beautiful, natural light while protecting the books from the sun’s direct, damaging rays.

2. The Museums Inside the Library

This is what makes the Bibliotheca so unique. It houses multiple, high-quality museums right inside the main building.

• The Antiquities Museum: A must-see! This professional museum in the library’s basement holds over 1,000 artifacts. You’ll see stunning Greco-Roman statues, Pharaonic relics, and incredible mosaics, many of which were discovered by divers in Alexandria’s underwater harbor.
• The Manuscripts Museum: A true treasure chest and a direct link to the spirit of the original library. This state-of-the-art museum displays a priceless collection of ancient, hand-written texts and scrolls, showing the evolution of writing and book-making.
• The Sadat Museum: Explore Egypt’s modern history in this fascinating exhibit dedicated to former President Anwar Sadat, a Nobel Peace Prize winner. You can see his military uniform, his personal Quran, his desk, and even the blood-stained uniform from the day of his assassination.