Alexandria - the Bride of the Mediterranean - is located on the lush delta of Lower Egypt, where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean Sea. Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great, and served as the capital for nearly 900 years.
Alexandria flourished as a center of culture, knowledge, and trade during antiquity. It was famed for its remarkable Library of Alexandria, which held thousands of scrolls and papyrus that attracted the greatest minds of the era. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was the Pharos lighthouse, standing in the harbor in front of Alexandria. The Pharos was one of the world’s tallest man-made structures (excluding Pyramids) for over a millenium.
Today, visitors to Alexandria can explore the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, a burial site for Egyptian, Greek and Roman citizens during the age of the Roman Antonine dynasty, or Pompey’s Pillar, one of the largest columns carved from a single piece of granite. Tourists and scholars alike also make it a point to tour the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which stands as a tribute to the ancient library and welcomes over a million visitors each year.
Alexandria today also serves as the summer getaway of choice for Egyptians, thanks to its refreshing climate and beautiful Mediterranean beaches. It is also considered one of the food capitals of Egypt, especially for seafood - freshly caught from the Mediterranean, of course.
