Tourists from Greece, Cyprus, Italy set to visit Alexandria

CAIRO – 22 June 2018: Alexandria will witness a promising future in tourism as many tourists from Greece, Cyprus and Italy, particularly Milan, are set to visit Alexandria in the coming period, according to the Head of Tourism Companies in Alexandria Ali Al-Manstrali.

In a press release issued on Friday, Al-Manstrali called for dedicating special beaches for tourists in Alexandria to meet their needs and privacy, which will give an opportunity for activating beach tourism along with traditional and cultural tourism.

He stressed that hotel rooms will be doubled in the upcoming period and the Alexandria Borg El Arab Airport will be expanded to be able to take in 4 million passengers by 2022.
In this regard, he praised the efforts exerted by Alexandria’s Governor Mohamed Sultan and Ahmed Hijazi, head of the Central Administration of Tourism and Resorts, to maintain Alexandria’s beaches and improve its infrastructure in preparation for the summer vacation.

He added that although Eid al-Fitr’s holiday has ended, the current occupancy rate of hotels exceeded 90 percent at the beginning of the holiday.

Alexandria is popular for its beaches, sea and weather, but it is also considered by many to be a spectacular destination for cultural and religious tourism.

1 – Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque:
One of the oldest mosques in Alexandria. It is popular for its unique domes and Islamic architecture, attracting tourists from all over the world.

This mosque was the center of many religious events, like the mawlid (birth celebration) of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi, during which guests, especially Sufi Muslims, came to participate in “Dhikr” (remembrance) circles. Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque, the center of formal religious events, is under the purview of the Ministry of Religious Endowments and operates under the presence of government officials.

2- Citadel of Qaitbay in Alexandria
Built in western Alexandria during the 14th century to defend the city from the advancing Ottoman Empire, the largest stone of the citadel forms the doorway of its entrance and is decorated with red granite.

Over time, the Citadel of Qaitbay served many military functions. Today, it houses a naval museum that makes the citadel worth visiting.

The citadel is surrounded by a peninsula that is always crowded with locals and tourists enjoying the sea view, restaurants and shops on the pier.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Bibliotheca Alexandrina is one of the oldest libraries in the world. It was built 23 centuries ago, and it contained more than 700,000 volumes and manuscripts until they were burnt.

Currently, it contains more than 8 million books, six specialized libraries, three museums, seven research centers and six halls for cultural and artistic events.