Alexandria is most famous for its ancient past and the Roman Theater of Kom el-Dikka is a direct view of that past. The theater stands near Alexandria's main rail station and further excavations have revealed several remnants of a Roman city all around it. Dating to the times of Ptolemy, this theater was originally the Park of Pan pleasure garden.
Roman Amphitheater (Kom-al-Dikka)
Tereat El Mahmodea
Alexandria, Egypt
(+20) 3-486-5106
Without doubt the most famous of Alexandria's ancient attractions was the Library of Alexandria, but with its slow destruction from the 1st century BC to the 7th AD by Romans and Muslims, it was lost. The library was the greatest center of learning in the ancient world and held most of what was known and written at the time. Its loss was terribly tragic and so with the creation of the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina a giant step has been taken to restore that once great institution. The new library holds some 8 million books and has an entire lower floor dedicated to the ancient and unique texts of history. The library opened in 2002 and received great recognition for its architecture and symbolism.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
P.O. Box 138
Chatby, Alexandria 21526
EGYPT
(+203) 483-9999
bibalex.org
Immediately recognizable and known to all visitors of Alexandria, the red granite Pompey's Pillar stands high over the city some 95 feet as it has since the late 4th century AD when it was placed there in honor of the Emperor Diocletian.
Pompey's Pillar
Alexandria, Egypt
(+20) 3-484-5800
Perhaps the most famous Alexandrian site of the modern day thanks to its illustrious residents, the Ras-el-Tin Palace was the hub of Egyptian power when in the 19th century Mohammed Ali (then the ruler of Egypt) would spend his summers here. In 1956, the palace was again the center of power as King Farouk abdicated his throne and departed Egypt in exile at the Ras-el-Tin.
Ras-el-Tin Palace
Alexandria, Egypt
