Sights Alexandria, Egypt

Today, Alexandria is divided into two parts. Old Town, located between the two offices of the port, has close alleys and lots of markets, while New Town is more "Western" and modern. Everyone can find here what he is most interesting, because Alexandria offers attractions for every taste.

Alexandria Library, an initiative of the philosopher and statesman Demetrius Falerskogo, counted up to one million volumes. It was burned during Caesar's time. Faroese lighthouse, one of the seven wonders of the world, collapsed in the XIV century. from a strong earthquake. Hence, I in. AD started the Christianization of Egypt, but also the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian, who in 295 g. commanded to destroy the city. Foundation and the flowering of Cairo taken from Alexandria, its former importance. Only in the XIX century. when Muhammad Ali, the city experienced its second spring.

In the very spot where once stood Faroese lighthouse, located on the eastern harbor of Fort Kite Bay. From the ruins of the lighthouse in the XV century. Sultan Ashraf Muslim fortress built round towers and battlements overlooking the sea. On the other side of the harbor in II. BC in the Greco-Egyptian-style tomb built rock Anfoushi. Paint the walls of the underground complex simulates marble, alabaster and wood.

Catacombs of Kom ash-Shavkafa related to I and II centuries. BC, arranged in three floors (the lower two are flooded with water). The architecture of tombstones of the largest in Egypt, the Roman underground burial combined elements of Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles. The decoration on the chapel are scenes of Christian burial, and "protect" the chapel shakalogolovy Anubis and the dragon with the head not the dog, not the monkey. Here you can meet different kinds of graves, including the tomb-pits in the rocky corridors.

Mosque of Abu al-Abbas - the biggest and most popular in Alexandria. An architectural monument constructed in the XVIII century. in place of his predecessor, collapsed over the tomb of the Muslim "holy" Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi (1219-1287). A native of Andalusia, was Sheikh Abu fraternity Shadheli based Abu al-Hasan al-Shadheli. Almost completely rebuilt in 1944, the mosque is a masterpiece of architectural art. Masterfully executed designs of four domes and minarets 73 m high, decorated facades and carved minbar (pulpit, from which to read the Friday sermon).

In the Greco-Roman Museum presented 40 000 exhibits, including an outstanding collection of coins, covering the period from IV. BC to IV in. AD The statues, sarcophagi, pottery, papyrus paintings, and allows to observe the difference and the mixture of styles from Ancient Egypt, the period of the Ptolemies, the Romans and Greeks. Figures from marble and wood represent the most important deity of Alexandria. Room with the mummy and the remains of a crocodile sanctuary Sebek (crocodile god) recalls the worship of this divine reptiles in Fayoum. Famous Russian artist Ivan Bilibin, who lived in the 20-ies. in exile in Egypt, was very fond of this museum and spent it for hours.

In the halls of the Museum of Fine Arts posted an interesting collection of paintings, there regularly hosts exhibitions of Egyptian and foreign artists and performed "Alexandria Biennale - Exhibition of works by artists of the Mediterranean countries. In the former palace housed the Royal Museum of jewelry collected by the ruler of Egypt, the middle of last century, Muhammad Ali and his successors. Ibid display statues and paintings from the collection of the royal family.

In the 50 aquariums Hydrobiological Museum, located near Fort Kite Bay, live fish, shellfish and corals, caught in the Nile, the Mediterranean and Red seas. The biggest attraction of the museum was the skeleton of a 17-meter whale ejected in 1936 on the shore east of Alexandria.

Alexandria has many faces. Do you want to know the past or present, delve into history or simply come to rest in Alexandria, you will see more than one city. "If there is an Asian Europe, Alexandria would become its capital," - claimed a famous English writer Lawrence Durrell.

The city stretches for 20 km along the Mediterranean Sea. The winding starts from the eastern embankment of the bay and passes through the center of the city. In the winter the sun shines on the white sand and plow the sea yachts, summer vacationers sunbathe on the numerous beaches. The most famous of them - and Montaza Maamura in the eastern part of the city.

Far from them is the town of Abu Kir. It is famous for the fact that two hundred years ago in his bay battle occurred between the squadrons of Napoleon and Nelson. Abu Qir is also famous for its fish restaurants.