About Alexandria
Alexandria (Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Greek: Ἀλεξάνδρεια), with a population of 4.1 million, is the second-largest city in Egypt, and is the country's largest seaport, serving about 80% of Egypt's imports and exports. Alexandria is also an important tourist resort.
Alexandria extends about 32 km (20 miles) along the coast of the Mediterranean sea in north-central Egypt. It is home to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (the new Library of Alexandria), and is an important industrial center because of its natural gas and oil pipelines from Suez. Alexandria was also an important trading post between Europe and Asia, because it profited from the easy overland connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.
In ancient times, Alexandria was one of the most famous cities in the world. It was founded around a small pharaonic town c. 331 BC by Greek Macedonian king Alexander the Great. It remained Egypt's capital for nearly a thousand years, until the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 641 AD when a new capital was founded at Fustat (Fustat was later absorbed into Cairo).
Alexandria was known for the Lighthouse of Alexandria (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), the Library of Alexandria (the largest library in the ancient world) and the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages). Ongoing maritime archaeology in the harbor of Alexandria, which began in 1994, is revealing details of Alexandria both before the arrival of Alexander, when a city named Rhakotis existed there, and during the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Photos From Alexandria
Alexandria Attractions
Alexandria National Museum
The Alexandria national museum is located at 110 El-Horreyya Road, Alexandria.
Alexandria Stadium
Submitted by Han — Sun, 10/19/2008 - 08:35
Claustrophobically set in the Hay Charg district of the city, its turnstiles boasts mahogany and oak wood panel doors with the stands resembling any archetype Greek Olympic Stadium, calling for Chariots of Fire, Ben Hur and classic football drama. Its seating capacity is 19,676, the majority taking up at each home game of Itthad.
Alexandria University
Alexandria University (Arabic: جامعة الإسكندرية ) is a university in Alexandria, Egypt. It was established in 1938 as a satellite of Fouad I University, becoming an independent entity in 1942. It was known as Farouk University until it became the University of Alexandria in 1952. Taha Hussein was the founding rector of Alexandria University.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Latin for "Library of Alexandria") is a major library and cultural center located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.
Citadel of Qaitbay
The Citadel of Qaitbay (or the Fort of Qaitbay) (Arabic:قلعة قايتباي) is a 15th century defensive fortress located on the Mediterranean sea coast, built upon/from the ruins of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, in Alexandria, Egypt. It was established in 1477 AD by Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qa'it Bay.
Graeco—Roman Museum of Alexandria
Founded in 1892, the Graeco—Roman Museum of Alexandria has already celebrated its centenary. Its vast collection, gathered together over these hundred years, is the product of donations from wealthy Alexandrians as well as of excavations led by successive directors of the institution, both within the town and in its environs.
Itthad Sporting Club
Itthad (a.k.a El-Itthad El-Sakandary) is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Egypt. The club's soccer team was founded in 1914 in Alexandria and currently participates in the Egyptian Premier League. It has the 4th largest number of fans in Egypt, after Al Ahly, Al Zamalek and El Ismaily. The club Ittihad of Alexandria is the one of the promoters for founding the Egyptian Football Association in 1921.
Montazah Palace and Gardens
Montazah is a royal palace built between 1892 and 1926 as a summer retreat by Khedive Abbas II; an ancestor of King Farouk, the last king of Egypt. It was here that the last king of Egypt spent his childhood years.
Alexandria Web Sources
Alexandria Official Site
Alex4all.com is the official site for the Alexandria governorate. The site offers its services for both residents and other interested visitors to the city. Catergories you will find there includes news, Alex events, Alex museums, sights & monuments.
Alexandria Tour
This site contains detailed information about touring the city of Alexandria published by Tour Egypt website.
Alexandria-Sacred Destinations
Web page for the city of Alexandria at Sacred-Destinations web site.
Alexandria-Wikipedia
The Wikipedia entry of the city of Alexandria.
Discover Alex
Discover Alex is a web portal created by the local government of the city of Alexandria, Egypt.
Invest in Alexandria
This website provides information about investing opportunities in the city of Alexandria, Egypt. If you are considering a new business in Egypt, or expanding your existing business to Alexandria, Egypt you should check out this site. It has a wealth of information to get you started.
Recommended Books and Multimedia About Alexandria
