Welcome to Alexandria, a port city situated on the Mediterranean coast, about a 3-hour drive from Cairo or a short flight.

The city was founded by Alexander the Great in around 331 BC and became the main city of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and was second in size and wealth to Rome. Known for its most famous resident Queen Cleopatra VII, Alexandria was considered the place of learning with the establishment of the Library of Alexandria. Containing thousands of papyrus scrolls it was partially destroyed by fire.  Although that original library is long gone (and so too are the scrolls) Alexandria boasts a new library located on the 19km El Corniche (coastline road) which runs from El Montazah Palace with its beautiful gardens, which was the summer getaway for the king on the east side of Alexandria through to Qaitbay, the fortress built to protect the city against invaders on the western side. It was at the western end that the Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria which was one of the original seven wonders of the world once stood, and today if you dive around the waters surrounding Qaitbay you can still see some of the stone blocks from the lighthouse after it was destroyed by an earthquake.

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Places to visit in Alexandria include (but not limited to):

• Bibliotheca Alexandrina with its amazing architecture (the new library)

• Montazah Palace and Gardens  - One time hunting lodge, then presidential summer residence, it is now a museum

• Qaitbay Fort/Citadel - Originally built in the 14th century by Sultan Qaitbay, it was used as a defensive fortress

• The Alexandria National Museum - covers the history of Alexandria from Pharaonic through to Islamic times

• Pompey's Pillar - Built around 300 AD this Roman triumphal column actually commemorates a victory by Emperor Diocletian

• Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa - Dates back to Graeco-Roman period, it is an important burial site in Egypt