Alexandria Essential: The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Qaitbay Citadel, the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, the Corniche, and the Most Mediterranean Single Egyptian City
The Alexandria essential circuit covers the Bibliotheca Alexandrina as the most architecturally spectacular single modern library on earth, the Qaitbay Citadel built on the site of the ancient lighthouse, the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, and the most Mediterranean single Egyptian city.
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Bibliotheca Alexandrina: The Reborn Ancient Library
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (the most architecturally spectacular single modern library on earth, opened 2002 as the most symbolically ambitious single revival of the most historically famous single ancient library, the Library of Alexandria that was the most comprehensively collected single ancient world knowledge repository), with the most dramatically tilted single circular roof designed by the Norwegian-British Snohetta architects suggesting the most rising-sun-symbolizing single disc angle toward the Mediterranean sea, is the most culturally significant single modern Egyptian institution.
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Qaitbay Citadel: The Lighthouse Site
The Qaitbay Citadel (built 1477 on the most specifically site-occupying single location of the most famous ancient wonder of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World at approximately 120-140 meters tall from approximately 280 BC to the 14th century earthquake collapse, now the most dramatically sea-positioned single 15th century Mamluk fortress with the most panoramically Mediterranean single coastal view from the most dramatically wave-struck single Alexandria headland), is the most symbolically layered single Alexandria monument.
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Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa: The Greco-Roman Underground
The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa (the most dramatically underground single Alexandria archaeological site discovered accidentally in 1900 when a donkey fell into the most completely sealed single tunnel entrance, dating from the 2nd century AD as the most comprehensively syncretic single Greco-Egyptian-Roman burial complex with the most completely intertwined single Egyptian pharaonic, Greek mythological, and Roman architectural decorative tradition in the most spectacularly cavernous single three-tiered underground complex), is the most dramatically excavated single Alexandria heritage site.
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Alexandria Corniche: The Mediterranean Promenade
The Alexandria Corniche (the most extensively paved single Mediterranean coastal promenade in Egypt at 20 kilometers from the most eastern single Montazah Palace gardens to the most western single Abu Qir coastal point, the most completely sea-breeze-animated single Egyptian waterfront with the most dramatically salt-spray-splashed single winter Mediterranean waves crashing over the most completely low-wall single Corniche barrier), is the most physically characteristic single Alexandria urban feature and the promenade most completely differentiating the most Mediterranean single Egyptian city from the most desert-inland single Cairo.
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Montazah Palace Gardens: The Royal Alexandria Retreat
The Montazah Palace Gardens (the most beautifully landscaped single Alexandria royal park with the most completely pine-and-palm-mixed single Mediterranean garden tradition, the most historically significant single Egyptian royal summer residence built for Khedive Abbas II in 1892 in the most dramatically sea-cliff single eastern Alexandria position), is the most practically peaceful single Alexandria afternoon escape from the most urban single Corniche hustle and the most romantically royal single Alexandria sea garden experience.
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Roman Amphitheatre of Kom el-Dikka: The Surprise Discovery
The Roman Amphitheatre of Kom el-Dikka (the most surprisingly discovered single Alexandria ancient monument uncovered during the most unexpectedly rich single urban construction excavation in 1960, the most completely preserved single Roman-period amphitheatre in Egypt with the most intact single marble seating tier and the most recently excavated single Roman-period baths complex adjacent), is the most practically centrally located single Alexandria ancient site and the Roman monument most directly accessible in the most densely modern single Alexandria city center.
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More in Alexandria
Alexandria Layers: The Jewish Community Heritage, the Ottoman Quarter, the Italian Community, and the Lost Cosmopolitan City
Alexandria Modern History - Napoleon, the British Occupation, Khedive Ismail, and the Cotton Economy
Alexandria: The Great Library, Pharos Lighthouse, Cleopatra, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Alexandria Walk: The Pompey Pillar, the Serapeum Platform, the Roman Amphitheatre, and the Complete Ancient Alexandria Walking Circuit
Alexandria Practical: The Cairo Train Connection, the Accommodation, the Day Trip Strategy, the Best Timing, and the Egypt Circuit Role
