Itinerary

1. Bibliotheca Alexandrina

   • The history of Alexandria Library: Scientists argued about the real founder of the Bibliotheca. Some said it was designed in the reign of Ptolemy the first, and others assumed that the founding was by Ptolemy the second; even though some archaeologists said that it was planned for the library in Alexander the great era 23 centuries ago, nothing is confirmed, but all we know is the great library also known as “the royal library” the first and largest public library the ancient world ever witnessed.
   • The First public library. The idea of a library has been known since early antiquity. Still, it was only for the royals and priests, the library of Alexandria may not be the first library in history. Still, it was the first public one for common people where the pharaonic and Greek cultures engaged together, the west knowledge combined with east science producing the Hellenistic civilization. The library's guides imposed the working teachers and scholars to leave a copy of their writings and publications to gain the library its research center and be a reference to anyone seeking awareness and education. The library flourished back then even more by housing about 700,000 scrolls of philosophy and poetry prominent such as the Humorous and Aristotle collection; it became an academy for those who desired nothing except knowledge and to free themselves from all political affiliations and racism.
   • The burn of Alexandria Library: Many stories were told as many mythologies were assumed about the destruction of the ancient library; some said that Julius Ceaser burned 101 ships on the Mediterranean coast during the war with Ptolemy the third, the younger brother of Cleopatra; this conquest led to huge fire burned the bibliotheca in 48 B.C. other scientists accuse Amr bin Al-Aas making him responsible for the library fire during the Islamic conquest. Still, there's no evidence of such claims, and Nothing is certain, though.
   • Collection of Alexandria's new library: The idea of resurrecting the destroyed ancient library was proposed by Alexandria university in 1974, which faced positive and supportive responses from the international community; in 1988, UNESCO sponsored for architectural competition (best design for Alexandria's new library), which was won by the Norwegian firm Snøhetta. the actual construction began in 1994 and was completed in 2002 with a 200$ million budget; today, the library receives about 800,00 visitors annually with the main target to be an academy of dialogue and rationality just like the ancient Bibliotheca. The library's interior design is modern and striking, with a 160-meter diameter glass panelled roof; the outer wall is built of Aswan grey granite with 120 characters from rare scripts carved into these walls. In addition to the planetarium (large dome)and The great main reading hall, which covers about 700,000 m² with accommodation of 2000 readers at one time, the library also contains 200 rooms for scholars and researchers. Moreover, the books shelved in the reading hall are donated worldwide with different languages and subjects.
   • Exhibition gallery and museum of Alexandria Library: The gallery located at the heart of the library and covers the space of 344m2. It comprises around 120 manuscripts and rare scrolls displayed in cases; Italy donated 12 display cases according to the cooperation agreement between the two countries, and 20 of them are Egyptian-made cases. the exhibition gallery also displays two pieces of kiswa (holly Ka'aba cover suite). The antiquities museum displays almost 1,100 artifacts and documents dating from the Pharaonic era to the Islamic civilization, including the Greek-Roman and early Coptic periods. The library has a manuscripts restoration laboratory besides two more exhibitions, one for original engravings and lithographs, the other one for literary and Egyptian cinematic works.
   • Stanley Bridge: The Stanley Bridge, or the Stanley Bridge, as it is known in Egypt, is a bridge built to improve traffic flow on the Alexandria Corniche.
   • Unknown soldier: The Monument to the Unknown Marine Soldier is located in the Mansheya area of Alexandria. It was built by the Italian community in Alexandria in 1933 AD to honour Khedive Ismail, and she made a statue for him in the middle of the top of the monument; then, it was turned into the Monument of the Unknown Soldier in 1965 AD, and the statue of Khedive Ismail was removed from the monument. 
   • Back to the hotel.