Alexandria (Egypt)
Alexandria is the second largest city in Egypt. Its spirit and culture is different from the rest of the country, although it is only 225 km from Cairo. It has more Mediterranean than oriental features.
According to Country CAT, Alexandria was founded in 332 BC. when Egypt was annexed to the empire of Alexander the Great. Alexander commissioned the planning of the new city to his architect Denocrates. Until now, it has retained its original layout: long main highways run parallel to the sea coast, and short transverse ones cross them at right angles.
Over time, the city became an important trading center and the center of the spiritual life of the Hellenic world. In the era of Alexander the Great, a library was built here, which became a crossroads of various linguistic and religious cultures. Her collection consisted of about a million volumes. In addition to the works of ancient Greek literature and science, which formed the basis of the Library of Alexandria, there were books in oriental languages. There was also a staff of copyists who copied books. During the siege of Alexandria by Julius Caesar, a significant part of the books perished in a fire. Another part was destroyed by Christian fanatics in the 4th century. The last remnants disappeared under the rule of the Arabs in the 7th – 8th centuries. In 2002, the modern Alexandria Library was opened located in a new 11-storey building. It stands in the same place as its ancient predecessor. The library fund consists of the main fund, the children’s fund and the fund of literature for the blind. A planetarium, a science museum, a calligraphy museum, the Alexandria Museum, an archaeological museum, an international school of informatics, a restoration and conservation laboratory, and the Alexandria Congress Center with a total area of 5,000 sq. m. have been opened on the territory of the library. m., exhibition halls and various ancillary facilities.
Near Alexandria was one of the wonders of the world – the Pharos lighthouse. On its ruins in the XV century. Sultan Ashraf built a Muslim fortress with round towers and loopholes overlooking the sea. On the other side of the harbor in the II century. BC. the rock-cut tombs of Anfushi were built in the Greco-Egyptian style. The coloring of the walls of the underground complex imitates marble, alabaster and wood. Alexandria
has the largest Roman burial site in Egypt, called the Catacombs of Kom ash-Shawqaf. Their architecture combines elements of Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles. The architecture of the tombstones of this largest Roman underground burial in Egypt combines elements of Egyptian, Greek and Roman styles. Scenes of Christian funerals are presented in the painting of the chapel, and the Anubis chapel is “guarded”. The most beautiful mosque in the city is considered
Abu al-Abbas. Almost completely rebuilt in 1944, the mosque is considered a masterpiece of building art.
In Alexandria, you should definitely visit the Greco-Roman Museum, with about 40,000 exhibits.
Alexandria is one of the most significant resorts in the Middle East. It is famous for its mild winters, amazingly beautiful landscapes and magnificent white sand beaches stretching for 140 km along the Mediterranean Sea from the town of Abu Kir in the east to Al Alamein and Sidi Abdul Rahman in the west.
Makadi Bay (Egypt)
Makadi Bay is located 30 km south of Hurghada on the Red Sea in the bay of the same name. Together with the resort of Soma Bay, it is part of a single developing recreation area of Abu Makadi. Makadi Bay stands on a deserted coast, there are no large cities in the vicinity, here you can see only a large number of upscale hotels with the appropriate service, where there are restaurants, bars and discos. The resort is more suitable for a relaxing family holiday, because in Makadi Bay there is no fuss and noise, as in large tourist centers. Every hotel has its own beach, all beaches are sandy, but there are a lot of shells in the sand. You can swim here all year round, even in winter the water temperature does not drop below 20 degrees Celsius. On some beaches, it is worth going into the water in special slippers because of the dead corals at the bottom and shells.
Makadi Bay is suitable for outdoor enthusiasts. Here you can go diving and windsurfing. There are several coral reefs in the bay. One of them is right in front of the beach. The currents in this place are weak, the diving depth is 10-20 m. Mackerel, rays, barracudas and gray reef sharks are found in local reefs. In the coastal waters of Makadi Bay, the island of Abu Nachish is also interesting. with a surrounding reef 1 km long. Here you can see mackerel, barracuda, squid, rays, sharks, moray eels, groupers and turtles. This place is suitable for experienced divers, because there are quite strong underwater northern currents around the island. From Makadi Bay you can go to Giftun Island. It is located near the coast of Hurghada. Usually tourists come here for the whole day to sunbathe, swim and go diving or snorkeling in the coral reefs.
Windsurfing on Makadi Bay is best practiced during the summer months in the morning.
