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The second largest city in Egypt
and the main port of Egypt, Alexandria, known as
"The Pearl of the Mediterranean",
has an atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle
Eastern ; its ambience and cultural heritage distance it
from the rest of the country although it is actually
only 225 km. from Cairo.
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Alexandria was built by the Greek architect Dinocrates
(332-331 BC) on the site of an old village, Rhakotis, at
the orders of Alexander the Great. The city,
immortalizing Alexander's name, quickly flourished into
a prominent cutural, intellectual, political, and
economic metropolis, the remains of which are still
evident to this day.
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It was the renowned capital of the Ptolemies, with
numerous monuments. It was the site of the
Lighthouse,
one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, as well
as the Great Library. It was along these shores that
history took a tragic turn at the time of Cleopatra,
Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Octavian. |
Alexandria lies north-west of the Nile delta and
stretches along a narrow land strip between the
Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mariut (Mareotis). It is
linked to Cairo by two major highways and a railroad
line. It is one of the most notable summer resorts in
the Middle East, for, in addition to its temperate
winters, its beaches, with white sands and magnificent
scenery, stretch for 140 km along the Mediterranean Sea,
from Abu Qir, in the east to Al-Alamein and Sidi Abdul
Rahman, in the west.
History of the City
The Beaches of Alexandria
Lake Mariout
The City at a Glimpse
Photo Gallery
Maps
Airlines & Tourism Offices
Train Schedule
Main Hotels
Restaurants
Cafes & Hang Outs
Weather
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