Landmarks & Culture

Landmarks of the Downtown District

Twenty-three centuries within walking distance: from the Canopic Way and the Roman amphitheatre to the opera house and the Bibliotheca.

5 eras
23 centuries

A journey through time On the map

In the districtRoman Theatre at Kom El Dikka

Twenty-three centuries at a glance

Point at a dot to name the landmark; select it to go there.

Fouad Street — the Canopic Way331 BC — the Canopic Way
Mahatet El Raml & Saad Zaghloul SquareFrom 1863 — the Ramleh line’s terminus
The Alexandria Tram1863
The Windsor Palace Hotel1906, by the hotel’s own account
The Cecil Hotel1929

Ancient Alexandria331 BC – 7th century AD
The Islamic centuries7th century – 1805
The Mohamed Ali revival1805 – 1860
The cosmopolitan city1860 – 1950
Contemporary Alexandria1950 – today

Through time All at once

331 BC – 7th century AD

Ancient Alexandria

The city of Alexander, the Ptolemies and then Rome: its streets laid on a grid crossed by the Canopic Way, and at Kom El Dikka Rome left the only Roman theatre (odeon) uncovered in Egypt.

331 BC — the Canopic WaySquares & streetsFouad Street — the Canopic WayFollowing the line of the ancient Canopic Way for much of its length, Fouad Street brings together layers of Alexandria’s architecture and cultural life.El Attarin — Bab SharqiThe story
331 BC — the Canopic Way

1860 – 1950

The cosmopolitan city

The district at the height of its plurality: Greek, Italian, French, Levantine, Jewish and Armenian communities; the tram, theatres, hotels and cafés; classical, Art Nouveau and Art Deco buildings.