Alexandria or Alexandrina is the second largest city in Egypt. It is also considered as the largest city in the Mediterranean coast. Alexandria was founded by Alexander The Great in 332 BC. The entire city serves as an important sea port for all kinds of commodities from ancient to modern times.
As I am fascinated with the life of Alexander The Great, so, I did not slipped this chance to visit this coastal city. I was very much delighted to add it in my itinerary upon planning my travel to Egypt. 😍🥰😍
How did I get there?
As I arranged my tours with my hotel owner, Waleed, in Giza, I requested to him to add Alexandria in my itinerary. Included in my tour was the private transfer from Giza to Alexandria. My driver picked me up in my hotel by 9AM.
We had one stop-over to relax with my driver for a while. After the short stop-over, we hit the road again. From Giza, it took us 2.5 hours to reach Alexandria.
Where are the places I travelled?
From what I observed, the streets of Alexandria was narrower than in Cairo and Giza. It was still crowded but in a different vibe. Alexandria was more relaxed maybe because of the Mediterranean Sea where you can decide to swim for awhile. 😁 The structures are similar to European buildings which added a different vibrant in the city.
I also found that there was a tram train that travels within the city. I was lucky to see the tram travelling with daily commuters too while we are in the car. The last tram train I saw was in Hiroshima but it was really different from the one in Alexandria.
Before we started my tour, I met Hebba. She was my guide for my entire tour in Alexandria. Waleed contated Hebba for me to be my tour guide for the day. We met outside the Catacombs and started our tour.
Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa
Entrance Fee: EGP 200
The catacombs of Alexandria, also known as Kom el-Shoqafa or “mound of shards’’ in Arabic, is one of the seven wonders of the medieval world. It was believed to be constructed in 3rd or 4th century AD.
The structure was re-discovered in September 1900.It was when a donkey treading about in Alexandria’s outskirts found itself on unstable ground. Unable to balance, the donkey fell into the access shaft of the ancient tomb. What an adventurous donkey! 🐴 I was laughing terribly when I heard this story from Hebba. That donkey was a natural archeologist. 😅
To enter the Catacombs, we entered like a well that we walked downstairs. It was tight and getting darker as you walk more. It was like walking in a basement that was submerged before in water.
Inside the Catacombs, you will really felt that you were transported in time as all the designs, façade and pillars were decorated in Graeco-Roman architecture.It felt like I was not in Egypt but in a Greek or Roman city as it was really different from what I saw in Giza.
The entire area though is like a cemetery. It was said that the tombs here were also alike in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. Overall, I enjoyed my first stop in Alexandria. 💜
Pompey’s Pillar
Entrance Fee: Free for me as I did not entered the area
There was no enough information on who built and the purpose of the pillar. The pillar may be created under the time of Emperor Diocletian in about 297 AD. When I saw it from the outside, I felt like it was built for entertaining as it can be an open stadium before.
It was also said that it was the temple of Osiris and Sarapeum. However, from afar, it just look like a plain area with some Graeco-Roman design – two Spinx and literally, one pillar. With that, I asked Hebba if we can just skip it. She then agreed so I can visit the Alexandria Library. 🥰
To be honest, the streets of Alexandria outside the pillar was more interesting than the actual pillar itself. 😁✌️
Citadel of Qaitbay
Entrance Fee: EGP 200
The citadel was built by Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay to be a fortress in defending Alexandria from the Ottomans or Turkish invaders. The construction of the citadel was completed in 1480 AD.
Due to its strategic location, facing the Mediterranean Sea, it defended the entire city from different attacks. Today, the citadel is one of the most iconic part of Alexandria and entire Egypt.
All tours are situated in the main tower of the citadel. The main tower is the most dominant structure in the complex, it features a square design. With dimensions of 30 meters in height and 17 meters on each side. It consists of three levels and with cylindrical towers positioned at each of the four corners. These towers are equipped with strategically placed small windows, allowing archers to fire arrows in the event of an attack.
Inside the citadel is a mosque too. It was constructed in Mamlouki style. This style was a square one, with opening in the middle, making the mosque looks bigger. The mosque inside the citadel is considered as the 2nd oldest model in Alexandria.
After a short tour inside the main tower, my tour guide Hebba allowed me stroll on my own outside the citadel. I was thrilled about this as I also want a quite time on my own while travelling. 🥰
In the second level of the citadel, I have seen the vast Mediterranean Sea. 😍 It was a perfect sunny day in Alexandria with that blue sea and blue sky. I felt really blessed that I was able to have felt the wind of the Med Sea! It was a dream. 😍✨😍
Ever since I was little girl, I wanted to see the Mediterranean Sea as it was so close in Europe. That day, a dream came true. So, thank you, Lord! 🙏✨🙏
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Entrance Fee: EGP 150
The New Library of Alexandria is dedicated to recapturing the spirit of openness and scholarship of the original Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The original Library of Alexandria was as of today still not found. It can be due to different attacks and invasions happened in Alexandria. There was this one thought that it was burnt. However, the famous library was once said as the largest library in the world.
At first, the original Library of Alexandria was a part of a great research center. One of its main jobs before was the editing and copying of texts. It soon became a center for research and learning. Different scholars from all over the world worked before in the original library.
Today, Bibliotheca Alexandrina serves not just a library but also a cultural center not just in Egypt but for the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is also across the University of Alexandria, making it more busy yet full of character.
I was happy to exchanged the library rather than visiting the Pompey’s Pillar. 😁✌️ Nevertheless, the library did not disappointed me. It was huge and you can really feel that knowledge was everywhere. 📚💡📚
The National Library of France also donated 500,00 books in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina last 2010, making it more interesting. It was not just about the knowledge and history of Alexandria but of the entire world. 😍🥰😍
Indeed, Bibliotheca Alexandrina was not just a library. It was an entire archive of ancient and modern knowledge. I also like there was like a data center of all books. As an IT professional, I was amazed! 😍🥰😍
Thank you, Alexandria!
After all of the places I visited in Alexandria, Hebba took me to a restaurant to have our lunch. The lunch was also part of the package tour. I liked that the restaurant was facing the sea. For the last time, I will see the Mediterranean Sea. 😍🥺🤩
For lunch – note that lunch in Egypt normally starts at 2PM, Hebba pre-ordered me a meal with fish. If you are Asian, do not be afraid, rice is always here. 😁🍚 It was a sumptuous meal to end my day in Alexandria. 😍🥰😍
After lunch, we drove back to Giza. In the same phase of our car ride, it also took us 2.5 hours to return to my hotel.
For this day tour, aside from the entrance fees in all attractions, I just spent less than EGP 1,000 for the souvenirs I bought in Alexandria. The entire tour including the lunch was part of the package.
I was lucky and blessed to ticked off Alexandria from my bucket list. ✅💜I will never ever forget the moment I experienced the beauty of this city. Alexander The Great left us a gem. 💎 Everything was all aboard in my adventure in Alexandria. 💜💜💜
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