Old Alexanderia Sightseeing

Alexandria's famous land marks include Ahmed Orabi Square and Saad Zaghlul Square (both located in the downtown area), Mansheya Square (in Mansheya), Tahrir Square (formerly Mohammed Ali Square at the Place des Consuls) and Ahmed Zewail Square (near Wabour El Mayah). The city also hosts the Graeco-Roman Museum, with one of the finest collections of Graeco-Roman artifacts in the world. The Montaza Royal Gardens are an important urban green space; the palace garden complex is surrounded by walls on the east, west and south sides of the complex, and its north side faces the waterfront. Major mosques include Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque (in Somouha), Bilal Mosque, El-Gamee el-Bahari (in Mandara), Hatem Mosque (also in Somouha), Hoda el-Islam Mosque (in Sidi Bishr), Abu el-Abbas el-Mursi Mosque (in Anfoushi), El-Mowasah Mosque (in Hadara). The ancient Roman amphitheatre and Pompey's Pillar still stand.

- Lighthouse of Alexandria

Old name called Pharos, started by PTOLEMY I SOTER (r.304-284 B.C.E.) in 279 B.C.E. and completed by PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHUS (r. 285-246 B.C.E.). Pharos is the name of the island containing the lighthouse was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and was on the island of Pharos, It is known that the Lighthouse of Alexandria by Sostratos of Knidos for the equivalent of 9 million euros was built and completed no later than 282 BC, during a construction period of 17 to 20 years. The decline started 365 years after Christ, with an earthquake, the tower also held for 647 years without any significant incidents. After the tower has been rebuilt, however, it held further, until it was completely and ultimately destroyed in 1303 and 1323 AD by two earthquakes. The ruins are still partly in the sea, in 1480, they were also partially blocked in a fortress on the coast, the structure was 400 feet tall, and the light reflected from its mirrored fires could be seen some 25 miles out to sea, even at night. SOSTRATUS, who was brought to ALEXANDRIA from Cnidus, on the southwest coast of Asia Minor, designed the structure and aided in the construction. The building had three separate tiers on a base, with square cross sections. The base was a square foundation 20 feet high, measuring 350 feet on either side and made of limestone, covered by marble. The first tier was 200-235 feet high, with an 80-foot terrace. The tier contained 300 chambers with windows and had parapet walls on the top.It was 55 feet across and faced with white marble. This tier also had a walled terrace. The third tier was 60 to 80 feet high, cylindrical in design, and fashioned out of brick, plastered to match the marble of the lower section. This tier was 30 feet in diameter at the top and had an open space surrounded by eight marble columns. A fire was burned in this cavity, reflected in a mirror to shine seaward. The dome covering the area was decorated with a 20-foot bronze image of the Greek god Poseidon, although some sources state that the statue depicted ALEXANDER [III] THE GREAT or the Greek god Helios.

- El Montazah Gardens (Summer Palace)

Placed in the east of Alexandria, this area used to belong to the Mohamed Ali family that ruled Egypt from the mid 19th century until 1952. The construction began in 1892 under instructions of King Abbas II, who built a large palace inside the complex called the Salamlek (guest house). In 1932, King Fuad built a larger palace and called it the Haramlik (women's house). His son, King Farouk, built a bridge to the sea to act as a water front. The rest of the 115 acres is nothing but beautiful gardens. Palm trees and gazelles cover the area. This is a wonderful spot to enjoy the beauty of Alexandria.

- The Greco-Roman Museum

Placed in one of the most beautiful residential districts, the wonderful old villas include the massive old building, which is opposite the Town Hall and nearby the Adda Complex built in 1929. The museum was first built in 1892; in 1895, it was relocated to the present site near Gamal Abdul Nasser Road. It started with eleven galleries, and has been gradually enlarged in later renovation stages. It contains a very big variety of coins from different countries, from 630 BC to the Ottoman period in the 19th century. In Alexandria, Greco-Roman and Pharonic religions mingled in the cult of Serapis; the shift from pagan religions to Christianity can also be seen in the exhibits which include mummies, Hellenistic statues, and busts of Roman emperors, Tangara figurines, and early Christian antiquities.

- Pompey's Pillar

An approximately 25m red granite column with a circumference of 9 m, originally from the temple of the Serapes, it was once a magnificent structure rivaling the Soma and the Caesarean. Nearby are three sphinxes. After his defeat by Julius Caesar in the civil war, Pompey fled to Egypt where he was murdered in 48 BC; medieval travelers later believed he must be buried here. In fact, the pillar was raised in honor of Diocletian at the very end of the 4th century. Diocletian captured Alexandria after it had been under siege. The Arabs called it "Amoud el-Sawari", Column of the Horsemen. The Pillar is the tallest ancient monument in Alexandria.

- The Roman theatre (Odium) (Kom al-Dikka)

Built in the 4th century A.D., it remained in use until about the 7th century AD. It was discovered during the 1960s when a government building was planned for this location over its ruins. However, during excavation, the ruins of the Roman theatre were found. It is in a general area called Kom el Dikka today, which has become the city's largest archaeological park. Besides the theatre at Kom el-Dikka, there are also Roman baths and a whole residential quarter dating from the Ptolemaic through the Medieval Period. Near the theatre a large villa dating to the reign of Hadrian that is now called the "Villa of the Birds"; do to the magnificent mosaic floor in the main room depicting various species of birds. Roman theatre at one time there were between sixteen and seventeen rows of seats. The marble was imported from Europe (probably Italy). It could hold up to 700 to 800 people. The step seating of the Roman Theatre is built upon a thick limestone wall with another brick wall surrounding that one. The two walls are linked.

- Anfushi tombs

A necropolis on the Island of Pharos in ALX, Egypt, the burials there date to the Ptolemaic Period (304-30 B.C.E.) and later eras. A catacomb area is also part of this burial site.

- Qaitbay Fort (The Citadel of Qaitbey), remains of (Pharos lighthouse)

Pharos lighthouse is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, before it was toppled by an earthquake into the sea. The fort was built by Qaitbey (Quait-bey), who ruled Egypt between 1468 and 1496. This fort was badly ruined twice. The first time was Napoleon attack, the second time was when the English invaded Egypt. It has been restored three times. The first time was during the 1940s. It was again renovated in 1982, and once again in 2000.

- Al-Iskandariyya Mosque or Citadel Mosque

The Mosque of al-Iskandariyya is located at the easternmost section of the old city of Zabid. It was incorporated into the city's fortifications at one point, and is located between two towers of the citadel positioned between two towers of the city's citadel. For this reason, the Mosque of al-Iskandariyya is also known as the Citadel Mosque. Its minaret rises to sixty meters. A section of its base is incorporated into a citadel tower. It has been suggested that the Mosque of al-Iskandariyya reflects the style of the Rasulid period and that it dates to the fourteenth century, although the exact date is uncertain. An inscribed panel flanking the mihrab shows that Ottoman general Alexander (Iskandar) Ramos established a religious school at the mosque in 1533, which indicates that the mosque was already extant at this time. The inscription explains that the teaching was financed with revenue from irrigated agricultural lands in the Zabid hinterland, pointing to the central role of agriculture in the local economy. Egyptian and Ottoman decorative details on the mosque and the citadel indicate that they were renovated up until the nineteenth century.
Sources: Costa, Paolo, Ennio Vicario. 1977. Arabia Felix: a Land of Builders. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc., 112-119.


- Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque

Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi located in the middle of Alexandria and is incredibly beautiful, In 1775 the Algerians built the mosque over the tomb of the thirteenth century Andalusan saint Ahmed Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi who had joined and then lead the Imam El Shazli brotherhood. Abu al-Abbas lived in Alexandria for 43 years as a scholar and teacher until his death in 1286. He was buried in a small building near the eastern harbor in Alexandria.The mosque built in area: 3,000 sq m, Outer walls: 23m high, Interior ceilings: 17.2m high, Minaret: 73m high, Minbar: 6.35m high.
Woman cannot visit the mosque itself, but can visit the mausolem and view the interior of the mosque from behind a barrier.

-Terbana Mosque

Back to 1677 year, it is located to Terbana Street and Suq el-Tabakheen Street

- Abd al-Baqi Chorbagi Mosque and Wikala

Built in 1758, the Mosque and Wikala of Abd al Baqi Chorbagi, Al Shorbaghi mosque, Al Shorbagi mosque
Street Address Nokrashi Street, Anfushi, Located Alexandria, Date 1758, Period Ottoman Century 18th

- Abu Mina or Deir Mar Mina (St. Mina Monastery) 30° 51' N, 29° 40' E

Abu Mena is one of the oldest Christian sites in Egypt (4th to 7th century A.D.). The church, baptistery, basilicas, public buildings, streets, monasteries, houses and workshops in this early Christian holy city of Abu Mena were built over the tomb of the martyr Menas of Alexandria. The site was placed on the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage List in 1979, and is very close to the new Monastery of St. Mina in Mariut (about 1 Km).The Ancient Christian Pilgrimage Site, The great martyr St. Mina was an Egyptian young man who came from a large family, with rulers' status. He left the army to live in the desert and be filled with the blessings of the heavens. He then publicly declared his faith in Christ and was martyred for Christ's beloved name, after suffering great tribulations. Web; http://www.stmina-monastery.org, located Deir Mar Mina, 9 Borg el-Arab el-Gadida, Alexandria, Egypt - Postcode: 21934