Alexandria: Ancient Sites and Museums

Alexandria is a coastal city and port on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in the city, you can plan your trip around your cultural interests: ancient sites, museums, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina offer different areas of focus. Consider whether you’d like to focus on archaeological sites, collections, or literature and books. The range of themes spans the history of the lighthouse site, Roman sites, and manuscripts.

Citadel and Archaeological Sites

The Citadel of Qaitbay was built in the 15th century to protect the coastal city from external attacks, and stands on the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The citadel’s visitor center is located in a hall in the main tower. Its facilities include nine bilingual information panels in Arabic and English, maps, and explanatory diagrams; there is also a film about the ancient lighthouse site and seating for visitors. The citadel brings together the history of coastal defense and the memory of the lighthouse site. As the visitor center’s facilities may change, check the latest information before your visit.

Kom al-Dikka is a focal point for Roman archaeology. Its well-preserved amphitheater lies in the heart of Alexandria; the archaeological area includes Egypt’s only Roman theater of this type. The theater complex includes public baths, lecture halls, and a villa decorated with mosaics. The Catacombs of Kom al-Shuqafa offer a different focus: they provide insight into ancient burial rites and practices. Together, the theater complex and the catacombs represent different archaeological themes in Alexandria.

Museums, Architecture, and Literature

The Royal Jewelry Museum displays items from the Egyptian royal family’s collection. The palace in Zizinya, which houses the museum, was built in 1919 and combines European and Islamic architectural styles. Here, the collection and the building’s history come together: in addition to the items on display, the palace’s architecture also shapes the museum’s focus.

The Cavafy Museum displays numerous documents and manuscripts by Constantine Cavafy. The Graeco-Roman Museum offers a different approach: it was originally opened in 1892 during the reign of Khedive Abbas Helmi II to preserve artifacts found in Alexandria. Literary documents and the preservation of archaeological finds thus stand alongside each other as clearly distinct museum interests.

Individual monuments also have their own distinctive focus. Pompey’s Pillar is 28 meters high, made of red granite from Aswan, and dedicated to the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The villa and gardens of Antoniadis date from the 19th century and were designed after a miniature version of Versailles in France. While the pillar stands out for its material, dimensions, and dedication, the Antoniadis estate is distinguished by its French-inspired design.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Mediterranean Views

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is located in Al-Shatbi, Alexandria’s academic center. Its main library can hold up to eight million books; the library also includes four museums and a planetarium. A spacious outdoor plaza overlooking the Mediterranean adds a coastal connection to this focus. This offers a distinct area of interest alongside the archaeological sites and historic museum collections: books, the associated museums, and the planetarium.

Cultural Focuses for Your Hotel Search

Consider which of these areas of interest matter for your trip, then look for a hotel in Alexandria that suits your plans.

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