Tourism: Visiting Alexandria
New York Times
Situated on the Mediterranean along Egypt’s north coast, Alexandria is a city of legend. This is where Euclid sired geometry, Aristarchus deduced that the Earth revolved around the sun (about 18 centuries before Copernicus) and, of course, the young Alexander the Great founded the city as his capital in 331 B.C.
The city flourished through the 19th century as the hub of Egypt’s commerce, especially the cotton trade, drawing a cosmopolitan mix of Greeks, Italians, French, Jews and Levantine Arabs, who brought their languages, architecture and food. But things had changed by the time of the Suez Crisis in 1956, when Egypt privatized the Suez Canal, prompting military attacks by Britain, France and Israel. In its aftermath, many foreigners left or were expelled from Alexandria, and the city’s cultural grandeur began to crumble — much like the ancient part of the city that lies at the bottom of the sea.
In recent years, however, efforts by preservationists and the government to restore the city’s luster have started to bear fruit.
- Cosmopolitan Alexandria Endangered
Al Masry Al Youm (Fatma Keshk) “The city of Alexander,” “The second Egyptian capital,” “The cosmopolitan city,” “The bride of the Mediterranean;” so many are the names given to Alexandria. In the old quarters of the city, first built in...
- Fate Of Ancient Egyptian Library A Mystery
The Bismarck Tribune (Carol M. Russell) No one can find Alexander the Great. He was buried in Alexandria after his body was brought back from Babylon where he died in 323 BC at age 33. Theories of his death range from poisoning to appendicitis. Why can't...
- Alexandria The Crossroads
Saudi Aramco World (Edward Lewis) With photographs. Visitors to Alexandria are usually surprised by two features: the extent to which the city contributed to and shaped the Mediterranean world, and the complete lack of physical evidence that demonstrates...
- Tourism: Alexandria's Efforts To Lure Visitors
Earth Times Alexandria, Egypt - Just mention Alexandria and the name city rekindles the Pharoh era when the city was the location of a lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Library of Alexandria was the biggest at that...
- War Memorial Obelisks Tell An Old Roman Story
Times Online (Philip Howard) Rome conquered Alexandria in 30BC. It was the only time that a single power dominated the entire Mediterranean basin. In one sense this was just another Roman conquest. But Alexandria is a special place: the cosmopolis for...