Founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE, Alexandria was once the largest city in the ancient world. It has had an eventful past: it was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was occupied by various foreign powers, and has long been a key port. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt's second largest city is today a popular holiday destination. This book, the first comprehensive guide to the city's architecture, traces how the ebbs and flows of history and diverse cultures have left their marks on Alexandria. It covers everything from classical ruins and Ottoman fortifications to a Venetian Gothic hotel and Snohetta's modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina. It also highlights edifices off the beaten path, such as the Cotton Palace Tower, a skyscraper intended for use as the headquarters of the country's cotton industry but inexplicably abandoned before completion. Structured around five main routes, the publication serves as a user-friendly guide for exploring the city's wealth of buildings. Its knowledgeable authors, from the Architecture departments at Alexandria University, furnish readers with enlightening information from multiple perspectives, building up a clear picture of a multi-layered city.
