Bibliotheca Alexandrina Tour: A glimpse into Alexander the Great's legendary city
5.0
3 Ratings
Alexandria
Experience a luxurious tour of Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the legendary city founded by Alexander the Great. Explore its vast collection of books and immerse yourself in its stunning architecture and historical sites.
Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Bibliotheca Alexandrina - you will be picked up by your Private Guide & Driver in your private mini van then you will visit the Alexandria library which has shelf space for eight million books with the main reading room covering 20,000 square metres on eleven cascading levels. The complex also houses a conference center; specialized libraries for maps, multimedia, the blind and visually impaired, young people, and for children; four museums; four art galleries for temporary exhibitions; 15 permanent exhibitions; a planetarium;and a manuscript restoration laboratory. The library’s architecture is equally striking. The main reading room stands beneath a 32-meter-high glass-panelled roof, tilted out toward the sea like a sundial, and measuring some 160 m in diameter. The walls are of gray Aswan granite, carved with characters from 120 different human scripts.
    The collections at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina were donated from all over the world.
    The library is closed in Friday
  • Fort Qaitbey - then you will go ahead to The Citadel of Qaitbay which is a 15th-century fort located on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. The Mamluk Sultan Qaitbay built it to defend the city of Alexandria from the Crusaders.
    The Citadel is a large, imposing fortification with high walls and numerous towers. It is one of the most important castle in the Mediterranean, spanning an area of about 2 hectares.
    The Citadel has a long and eventful history. It has been described as “one of the most impressive medieval fortifications in the world”, having been involved in several battles and sieges over the centuries.
  • St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria - the oldest church in Africa
  • Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi - you will see an old funfair where children play on funfair rides.
  • Alexandria Opera House - Then you will pass by The Alexandria Opera House which was constructed in 1918 during the reign of Sultan Fuad I and named “Mohamed Ali Theatre”. The original owner was Badr El Din Kerdany who had appointed French architect Georges Baroque to do the design.

In 1962 the theatre was renamed “Sayed Darwish Theatre” in honour of this pioneer of Arab music. Unfortunately, the ravages of time destroyed the exquisite beauty of the building and earlier attempts at restoration did in fact more harm than good.

  • Alexandria Unknown Naval Soldier Memorial - you will aslo pass by Alexandria Naval Unknown Soldier Memorial which is located in the Mansheya area in Alexandria and was built by the Italian community in Alexandria as a kind of tribute to Khedive Ismail due to his great role in achieving a developmental and urban renaissance in Egypt during his reign between 1863 AD and 1879 AD and also as a kind of tribute to Egypt due to its hosting of the last king of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III, after He deposed him and chose Alexandria to reside there, and his design was similar to the memorial of the Unknown Soldier in Venice Square in the Italian capital, Rome.
  • Stanley Bridge - you will pass by Stanley Bridge which is the first bridge in Egypt to be constructed over the sea, It was built in the late 1990s over Stanley bay, The bridge is named after the district where it is built, It is considered by many to be a major part of the reconstruction and decoration of Alexandria beach, the bridge preserves the architectural style of the famous and cosmopolitan Egyptian city, and became another landmark in the Mediterranean sea city after its inauguration in 2001.
    Then you will be back to your drop off location.
What's Included
  • Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Exclusive private transportation
  • Unplanned surprises included
  • Expert Egyptologist guide
  • Comfortable in-vehicle air conditioning
  • All fees and taxes covered
  • Complimentary bottled water
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Embark on a grand expedition to the historic metropolis conceived by Alexander the Great. Prepare to be mesmerized by a collection of millions of books, estimated around two million. The library boasts a shelf capacity of accommodating eight million books, and the primary reading area sprawls over 20,000 square meters across eleven gradually descending floors. This comprehensive compound embraces a conference center, specialized collections for maps, multimedia, and services for the blind, visually impaired, young adults, and children. Stay entertained with four museums, four art exhibits for temporary displays, 15 continuous exhibitions, and a planetarium. Experience the main reading room’s exquisite design which leans towards the sea, mimicking a sundial. Next on the schedule is a pristine Cathedral, established by St. Mark the Evangelist in AD 60, known for authoring the second Gospel, with established ties to Alexandria tracing back to the onset of Christian customs. Lastly, visit the revered Abbo el Abbas mosque, architecturally redesigned by Eugenio Valzania and Mario Rossi, drawing its influences from Egypt’s archaic Cairo constructs and architecture.

Location
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
El Shatby
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(3 Ratings)
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Francine
Oct 4, 2023
Fun and informative - We enjoyed our day in Alexandria. Our tour with Jean was fun and informative and we were able to see most of the city and major sites in 4 hours. Jean is very knowledgeable!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gorgeousunknown
Jul 5, 2021
Must-Do In Alexandria, Egypt - The Library of Alexandria is a must visit site when visiting Alexandria. Built in honor of the great ancient Library of Alexandria, it also contains several art galleries, museums, and more.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rochellen907
Feb 20, 2020
Perfect tour in Alexandria - It's the best tour I 've ever done. I loved the library so much. Every place I visit is amazing. Guide Ali is knowledgeable and very punctual. Thanks for this tour. I will book my next visits with Mirette Tour .
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 14 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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