 Alexandria Travel Guide
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Alexandria
Key Attractions and Monuments
Very little of the ancient city of Alexandria survive due a massive earth quake that led to the destruction and the sinking of most civic quarters. The main remaining monuments in Alexandria are:
The catacomb of Kom El Shoukfa:
the largest roman burial place in all of Egypt. It consist of a multi-level labyrinth, reached via a large spiral staircase, and featuring dozens of chambers adorned with sculpted pillars, statues, and other syncretic Romano-Egyptian religious symbols, burial niches and sarcophagi, as well as a large Roman-style banquet room, where memorial meals were conducted by relatives of the deceased. The catacombs were long forgotten by the citizens until they were discovered by accident in the 1800s. North East of the catacomb stands the Pompay Pillar was orginally a part of a temple colonnade.
Pompey's Pillar:
is a massive 25m (82ft) pink granite monument measuring 9m (30ft) around its girth. The pillar should rightfully called Diocletian's Pillar, as it was built for the emperor in AD 297, and was the only monument left standing following the violent arrival of the Crusaders around 1000 years later.
The Roman Amphitheatre:
also known as the roman theatre located near the Greco Roman museum. It consists of semicircle marble terraces. The theatre was discovered when digging for a new apartment building and it is very well preserved.
The Citadel of Qaitbay:
Is a defensive fort overlooking the Mediterranean sea. It is said to be built upon the ruins of the ancient light house of Alexandria which was considered one of the wonders of ancient world.
The new Biblotequa Alexandria:
was inaugurated in 2003 to replace the old Royal Alexandria library that was considered the largest in the world but was destroyed in a fire.
Abu Abbas al-Mursi Mosque:
In the center of Alexandria lies Abu El Abbas Mosque. The mosque is a shrine for a wholly suffi and beside it some other shrines for other wholly muslims. The main dome of the mosque is well decorated and its main highlight. The exterior of the mosque has a panorama appearance. It is a place of Muslim worship, therefore you should show respect to the place, getting of your shoes and men should not wear shorts while women should be veiled and wearing long clothes.
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