Alexandria

World-renowned Alexandria was once home to the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 B.C., the Mediterranean port city was also home to the Great Library, the largest of the ancient world. As such, the Biblioteca Alexandrina is the top attraction in the city, with one of the world’s most ambitious libraries (its main room can hold up to eight million volumes). It also holds an Antiques Museum with a vast collection spanning from ancient Egypt to Greco-Roman civilizations, a Manuscript Museum, Science Museum and Planetarium, art exhibitions, and more. Alexandria was always known for being on the water, and its waterfront corniche features some of the city’s most well-known landmarks and architecture. The Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqqafa date back to the 2nd Century C.E. and are renowned for their fusion of ancient Egyptian with Greco-Roman architectural styles. Nearby, Pompeii’s Pillar rises from the ruins of the ancient Temple of Serapis (although it was built in 292 C.E. in honor of Diocletian). The city is also great for underwater-ruin dives, including a palace area nicknamed “Cleopatra’s Palace.” The waters are filled with columns, sphinxes, and more. And to piece it all together, a visit to the Alexandria National Museum is a must, with exhibits ranging from the era of the Pharaohs to the Byzantine and Islamic periods. Other attractions include the Ras el-Tin Palace (a summer escape for Egypt’s sultans) and the Montazah Gardens (an oasis that once replaced the palace mentioned above as the sultan’s summer house).