Alexandria, Egypt - The Mediterranean port city in Egypt that was once the home for the old damaged lighthouse which was located in the same place where Qaitbay citadel now stands.
Alexandria (known in Arabic as الأسكندرية) is considered the second biggest city in Egypt, coming directly after the capital, Cairo. Being placed on the Mediterranean sea and in the north central part of the country, Alexandria is important as a tourist destination and attraction, and also because of its natural gas and oil pipelines from Suez; so it is important for both locals and foreigners.
The history of Alexandria is the main reason behind attracting tourists in the meantime. The name Alexandria came from Alexander the Great who founded it in the ancient times. The lighthouse of Alexandria was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world until it was destroyed by the attackers. The Bibliotheca Alexandria is not only a modern attraction but it was one of the largest in the ancient world until it was replaced with this modern one. The Necropolis of Alexandria was also one of the seven wonders of the middle ages.
Alexandria might not be the capital of Egypt but it was once considered the second powerful city coming after Rome. This written history made Alexandria one of the cities that tourists want to visit after passing by Cairo, and it is important to say that it carries some good attractions that say a little bit about the past.
Apart from the Alexandria fish dinner by the sea or the ice-cream while walking by the beach, there are some important historical destinations that one should visit to know this city more. The old buildings and the walks through the old streets with the salty breeze is definitely beautiful, but what about knowing more about this city's history?
From the most famous landmarks of this city, Qaitbay citadel stands at the top and this not only goes back to the magnificent views one will see along with receiving a good sea breeze, but it is also one historical place were the old lighthouse was once located before it was damaged by attackers during the wars (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TypQ9NcNE00).
Coming directly after the Qaitbay citadel, Bibliotheca Alexandria is the second important landmark of this city. The library of Alexandria was found since the time of Alexander and it was one of the biggest in the ancient world, but it then faced some restorations and was transformed into the modern library that people visit these days.
Another famous attraction in this city is Alexandria National Museum which tells the story of Alexandria to those who come across it through the different artifacts that it carries and which most of them came from other museums in Egypt. This museum is housed in the old Al-Saad Bassili Palaca, who was one of the wealthiest wood merchants in Alexandria.
Of course, Alexandria doesn't come fully on the sea shore, there are still inside streets that carry much of the history that one would want to know more about when it comes to this old city. Qaitbay citadel and the library of Alexandria are placed on the sea, but most of the other museums are not.
These are the most famous landmarks found in Alexandria but are not considered the only options, so for those willing to go to Alexandria, Egypt, you could also visit the Greco-Roman Museum, the aquarium of Alexandria - which is just minutes away from the citadel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXcc6v4C_lI), the Royal Jewelry Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Montaza Palace and garden, Shalalat Gardens, and Alexandria Opera House.
Spending a couple of days in Alexandria will definitely be filled with places to visit and historical areas to come across, and you will even get the chance to take a dip in the sea. If you want more of a summer place that could offer you a good beach and at the same time some silence away from all the hassle of the city, then heading to the North Coast, which is only about an hour or less by the car, will be always considered a good idea to think about (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atJfRWSR3lI).
Egypt in general is a good country to visit for all the history that it carries, you might find some negative points about the place, such as not caring much about the cleanliness of the streets, but you will come back with a really good amount of information, keeping in mind that due to the economic problems, it is considered an affordable country to spend a couple of days in.
At the end, who would not feel excited about the idea of visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlsFcP3EV0k) or going through the caves of the Qaitbay citadel that will always take him/her to the sea at the end? Almost nobody and that is exactly the reason we recommend visiting Alexandria and Egypt in general.
Just put down your plan and we are going to help you with suggesting those famous landmarks and historical places which you are going to enjoy in Egypt as a whole.
