The Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Opened in 2002 near the presumed site of the ancient library, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a modern reading room built on a monumental scale: a vast sloped disc of granite and glass angled toward the sea, holding millions of books beneath a roof designed to evoke a rising sun. It functions as a working library and cultural centre as much as a monument to what was lost.
The Citadel of Qaitbay
Built in the 15th century from the fallen stones of the Pharos lighthouse, on the very promontory where the lighthouse itself once stood, the Citadel of Qaitbay guards the entrance to Alexandria's Eastern Harbour. Its position gives some of the best views in the city, looking back over the corniche with the sea on the other side.
Getting There and Around
Fast trains connect Alexandria with Cairo in around two and a half hours, making it an easy day trip or a relaxed overnight stop. Beyond the corniche and the citadel, the Roman amphitheatre at Kom el-Dikka and the underground catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa are worth the detour, and no visit is complete without fresh seafood eaten within sight of the water.
