Alexandria, Port settlement in northern Egypt
Alexandria is a port city on the Mediterranean coast in northern Egypt, stretching more than 70 kilometers along the shoreline. The urban layout follows a grid pattern between the sea and Lake Mariut, with wide avenues running parallel to the waterfront.
Alexander the Great founded the city in 331 BCE as one of his strongholds during the conquest of Egypt. Under Ptolemaic rule, it became the main center for trade and scholarship in the eastern Mediterranean.
In the street cafes, locals gather for backgammon and tea while families stroll along the Corniche in the late afternoon. Fishermen sell their catch directly at the harbor, and the local cuisine revolves around fresh seafood prepared in restaurants according to traditional recipes.
Access to the waterfront promenade is possible at several points, with the main areas most active during daytime hours. Many of the public spaces and museums are located close to one another in the central section, making them reachable on foot.
Underwater off the coast lie remains of the Ptolemaic palaces that collapsed into the sea during earthquakes in the fourth century. Divers today can swim among columns, statues, and paving stones that are more than 2000 years old.
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