Historical Monuments in Alexandria, Egypt
Alexandria was the capital of Egypt for hundreds of years and was the site of countless events of historical importance, from wars and invasions to the construction of monuments like its now destroyed lighthouse. The city offers much to the visitor, providing an opportunity to step back in time hundreds of years and get a taste of Egypt from ancient times to modern.
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Churches
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Though a predominantly Muslim nation, Egypt also has a large Coptic Christian population and is home to many churches. Visitors to Alexandria can explore several important Christian sites, such as the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria and Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, the largest in Africa, according to Egypt Voyager. In addition to the architectural importance, the churches also contain various works of religious art and relics.
Mosques
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The mosques of Alexandria have lured the faithful with the call to prayer for centuries and are some of the city's oldest and most important monuments. The El-Mursi Abul-Abbas Mosque was built in 1775 over the grave of a Sufi saint from the 13th century, according to the Muslim Ummah of North America, and covers 3,500 square meters. Formerly a church, the Attarine Mosque was converted into an Islamic place of worship during the Muslim conquest of Egypt.
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Cemeteries
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As the city has seen its share of tumult over thousands of years, it's of little surprise that Alexandria contains several prominent cemeteries. Among them are the Hadra War Memorial Cemetery, which is located near the University of Alexandria and contains the remains of soldiers from WWI, when the city was home to troops from the UK and France. The Cemetery of Mostafa Kamel is far older, containing several underground tombs that date to the second and third centuries, according to Egyptopia, and are brightly painted with depictions of their occupants.
Citadel of Qaitbay
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Built where the famed Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood, the Citadel of Qaitbay rests along the city's eastern harbor on Pharos Island. The citadel was built in the late 15th century to help protect Egypt from a Turkish invasion, as the two countries were embroiled in war at the time. For centuries, the citadel was an important military site in Alexandria, but fell into disuse and disrepair after the British invaded in 1883. However, it was restored in the 20th century and is now open to visitors.
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References
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- Photo Credit Qait Bay Castle and boats at Alexandria Egypt image by TekinT from Fotolia.com
