Downtown DistrictAlexandria Governorate
العربية

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 timeOn 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.

  1. Shallalat GardensOn the line of the 9th-century wall, under Ibn Tulun
  2. Remains of the Alexandria City Wall9th century — under Ibn Tulun
  3. The Lycée Al-Horreya1909–1910 — the Shatby building from 1913
  4. Alexandria National MuseumLate-1920s palace — museum since 2003
  5. Bibliotheca Alexandrina2002
  • Ancient Alexandria331 BC – 7th century AD
  • The Islamic centuries7th century – 1805
  • The Mohamed Ali revival1805 – 1860
  • The cosmopolitan city1860 – 1950
  • Contemporary Alexandria1950 – today
Through timeAll at once

7th century – 1805

The Islamic centuries

The city contracted within a smaller wall built under Ibn Tulun, its gates later reinforced by the Fatimids and a forward wall added by the Ayyubids; one of its towers still stands inside Shallalat Gardens.

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.

1950 – today

Contemporary Alexandria

An age of discovery and rediscovery: the Roman theatre was uncovered by chance in 1964, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina returned to the city’s shore in 2002.

More places in the district

Theatres, cinemas and cultural centres, by type.

Arts & culture(4)