Details

Day tour in Alexandria (ALX 1)

Catacombs of Kom El Shuquafa, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Montaza Palace & gardens A photo stops at the Citadel of Quait Bay, Abu El Abbass Mosque, and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier .

Tour details:

Depart the Port of Alexandria for the drive to the Catacombs of Kom El Shuquafa, one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Discovered by a donkey in 1900, the catacombs represent the largest Roman cemetery in Egypt, and include the remains of more than 300 individual tombs. Constructed in the 2nd century A.D., probably for one family, they were later expanded to three levels cut 90 feet deep into existing rock. They now merge Roman, Greek and Egyptian cultural aspects in their design and decoration. The catacombs are accessed by a series of descending circular steps,

Drive to the Citadel of Quait Bay for a photo stop. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the lighthouse of Ancient Alexandria once stood on this site. Finished in the 3rd century B.C., the lighthouse was an astonishing 380 to 440 ft in height with approximately three hundred rooms in the lower section for workers. Running through the center was a double spiral ascent and hydraulic machinery that raised fuel for the lamp to the top. The lantern at the top of the lighthouse remains a source of discussion. Some say it contained a steel mirror that reflected light in the day and fire by night. Others say it was made of glass. The lantern and the top two stories fell around 956 A.D, during an earthquake and most of the tower was destroyed during earthquakes in 1303 and 1323. The present day fort was built in the 1480’s by Sultan Qaitbey using pieces of the lighthouse. These blocks are clearly visible due to their excessive size in comparison to surrounding masonry.

A photo stop will be made at the beautiful Abu El Abbass Mosque, considered to be the biggest mosque in Alexandria and a genuine example of Islamic architecture. The current building dates from 1775, although sections within date back as far as 1286 A. D.

A photo stop will also be made at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which dates back to 1915.

Next, you will visit the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina, built on or near the site of the ancient Library of Alexandria. Built at the beginning of the 3rd century BC, the ancient library was not only a repository of books; it was also a museum, school and the world's foremost center for learning and scholarly research. In the 4th century AD, a fire destroyed both the library and museum.

Your tour will include a visit to the new library, and a walking tour of the grounds, which feature a museum, galleries and planetarium. Your guide will explain the architecture, background, development and UNESCO’s part in the creation. Next, you will take a drive along the Mediterranean coast to the Montaza Gardens, 115 acres of gardens that surround the Montaza Palace, built in 1932 by King Fouad and inherited by his son King Farouk, last of the Egyptian kings. You will be returned to the pier.

Please note: this itinerary is flexible