Alexandria
Founded in 331 BCE by Alexander the Great, Alexandria is Egypt's primary Mediterranean port city and second-largest urban center. Renowned as a prominent crossroads of Greco-Roman and Egyptian civilizations, the city historically housed ancient wonders such as the Pharos Lighthouse and the Great Library of Alexandria. Today, Alexandria remains a major cultural, historic, and coastal hub. Key landmarks include the 15th-century Citadel of Qaitbay—built on the foundations of the ancient lighthouse—the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Pompey's Pillar, the Roman Amphitheatre, and the Kom El Shoqafa Catacombs. The city features a distinct Mediterranean atmosphere, historic waterfront promenades along the Corniche, and a rich architectural heritage spanning Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and 19th-century European influences.