Alexandria Egypt | Information about Alexandria Egypt

Alexandria is considered the second capital of Egypt and was the capital of Ancient Egypt. It is known by the name “the Pearl of the Mediterranean.” It is located in the north of Egypt, on the west bank of the Nile and the shore of the Mediterranean, and is 225 km from Cairo.

It has had two ports since ancient centuries, which is why it is considered the main port of Egypt. It has more than 4 million inhabitants.

The History of Alexandria

Alexandria

In 332 BC, Persa was in Egypt, and when Alexander the Great, “the founder of Alexandria,” arrived and defeated Persa, he thought of founding the capital of Egypt. In 331 BC, Alexander chose his city at Rakotis, which faces Faro Island, where the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, which he destroyed by earthquakes in the 14th century) was built. Alexandria was the capital of Egypt for almost a thousand years (during the Ptolemaic, Roman, and Byzantine dynasties) until Islam arrived in Egypt.

Weather in Alexandria

The weather in Alexandria is hot in the summer and relaxed, with rainy days in the winter, and it is the rainiest city in Egypt. The best time to visit it is from March to December because the weather is pleasant and moderate.

The Attractions of Alexandria

1- The Library of Alexandria

Alexandria is famous for its Library”Alexandria Library“. It was founded in the Ptolemaic dynasty in the 3rd century BC. It contained almost 700 thousand texts from Greek, Egyptian, Jewish, and other manuscripts. In 48 BC, the decline of the Library began, and many of its documents were burned. In 2002 rebuilt, the Library by UNESCO. It is considered the cultural center of Egypt because it contains 8 million books.

2- The Citadel of Qaitbey

The Citadel of Qaitbey was built by Al-Ashraf Abu Alnasr Quaitbay during the 1480s. It was built on the island and remained of Faros as the city’s defense.

3- The Catacombs of Kom el-Shogafa

The catacombs of Kom el-Shogafa were built during the Roman dynasty. Before, it was a private grave and later a public cemetery. It contains three levels of tombs and excavated chambers.