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ALEXANDRIA


	The Mosque of Abu Al-Abbas Al-Mursi Qaitbey Fort The Eastern Harbour		Montazah Palace and Parks Abu Qir District Day Trips from Alexandria

""The Pearl of the Mediterranean"

"The second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria 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 only 225 km from Cairo.

Founded by Alexander the Great in 331BC, Alexandria became the capital of Greco-Roman Egypt; its status as a beacon of culture is symbolized by "Pharos," the legendary lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The setting for the stormy relationship between Cleopatra and Marc Anthony, Alexandria was also the Centre of knowledge in the ancient world. But ancient Alexandria declined, and when Napoleon landed the found it a sparsely populated fishing village.
Since the 19th century, Alexandria has played a new role, as a focus for Egypt's commercial and maritime expansion. This Alexandria has been immortalized by writers such as E.M. Forster and Cavafy. Generations of immigrants from Greece, Italy and the Levant settled here and made the city synonymous with commerce, cosmopolitanism and bohemian culture; Lawrence Durrell described it as "the capital city of Asiatic Europe, if such a thing could exist".

THE MOSQUE OF ABU AL ABBAS AL MURSI
	Dedicated to the patron saint of Alexandria's fisherman and sailors, this is the city's biggest mosque. It has been built in an Andalusia style with four domes and a towering minaret.

QAITBEY FORT
	On the northern tip of the Eastern Harbour, Sultan Qaitbey's Fort is an Alexandria landmark. The Fort is on the original site of Pharos, Alexandria's ancient lighthouse, built in 279 B.C. Topped with a statue of Poseidon. Although Pharos was restored at various times, it had finally crumbled in the 1480. Today the Fort houses a mosque and the Naval Museum; it also provides wonderful views of the city and the Mediterranean. The first submerged antiquities museum has been inaugurated; "Cleopatra Empire" referring to the old city of Alexandria with its colorful palaces, rich inscriptions, ships and more than 5.000 Pharaonic and Roman statues located opposite Qaitbey Fort. A Roman style diving center is located in the Greek Club next to the Fort, which enables visitors to see both Pharos and Cleopatra cities housing her palace, ruins of her solar boat and ruins of an aircraft from World War ll.

THE EASTERN HARBOUR
	The Eastern Harbour A busy port in ancient times, fishermen and boat-builders still work here today, palms and old colonial mansions line part of the sweeping bay.

MONTAZAH PALACE AND PARKS
	Acres of gardens, and a beautiful beach make Montazah the city's foremost pleasure resort. Montazah Palace, is a grand structure built in a mixture of Turkish and Florentine styles. Pleasant afternoons can also be spent in Shallalat Gardens, which include rockeries and an artificial pond, Nozha Gardens, near the Zoo, and Antoniadis Gardens, where a classical statuary is set. The international Park is located at the entrance of the desert road. It offers facilities for several cultural, recreational and Water Sports activities; besides, it comprises several galleries and restaurants.

ABU QIR DISTRICT
	Dating from about 250 B.C. and painted to simulate alabaster and marble. These limestone tombs are decorated with pictures of Egyptian deities and daily life, besides graffiti that dates back to the same period.

DAY TRIPS FROM ALEXANDRIA
	A small fishing village, where you can enjoy sunbathing, fishing, swimming and eating fresh seafood at different restaurants. Submerged remains of more than 1000 years city have been recently discovered in the area; Medinet Al Khataya, "pleasure town," is believed to be the old city of Herakleion, dating back to the 5th century B.C. The old city went through the Pharaonic, Ptolemaic and Byzantine eras. Two large statues of Goddess Isis and God Serapis have been rescued as well. Museums. The fine Arts Museum has a collection ranging from drawings of rural life to Surrealist paintings. Exhibitions of works by contemporary Egyptian and international artists are held regularly and, every two years, It hosts the Alexandria Binale. Cavafy's Apartment has been restored as a museum on the top floor of the Greek Consulate. The Royal Jewelry Museum, in Zizinia, is set in a former palace and has a magnificent collection of the jewellery accumulated by Mohammed Ali and his descendants as well as statues and paintings. The Aquarium, near Qaitbey Fort, has a rare collection of fish and marine life.