| The second largest city in
Egypt, Alexandria, known as "The Pearl of the Mediterranean", has an
atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern ; its
ambience and cultural heritage distance it from the rest of the
country although it is actually only 225 km. from Cairo.
Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria became the
capital of Graeco-Roman Egypt, its status as a beacon of culture
symbolized by Pharos, the legendary lighthouse that was one of the
Seven Wonders of the World. The setting for the stormy relationship
between Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Alexandria was also the center of
learning in the ancient world. But ancient Alexandria declined, and
when Napoleon landed, he found a sparsely populated fishing village.
From the 19th century Alexandria took a new role, as a focus for
Egypt's commercial and maritime expansion. This Alexandria has been
immortalized by writers such as E-M- Forster and Cavafy. Generations
of immigrants from Greece, Italy and the Levant settled here and
made the city synonymous with commerce, cosmopolitanism and bohemian
culture.
Alexandria is a city to explore at random. It's as important to
enjoy the atmosphere as it is to see the sights
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