A marble theatre
Ancient graffiti on the seats.
Institute for the Study of the Ancient World from New York, United States of America — CC BY 2.0 · Institute for the Study of the Ancient World — CC BY 2.0 · Institute for the Study of the Ancient World from New York, United States of America — CC BY 2.0 · isawnyu — CC BY 2.0 · Institute for the Study of the Ancient World — CC BY 2.0
The largest above-ground archaeological site in Alexandria, in the heart of the modern city near the railway station, offering a rare picture of daily life in Roman Alexandria. Excavation began here in 1960, and archaeological missions still work on the site today. Its best-known feature is the only Roman theatre in Egypt: a small, elegant horseshoe-shaped auditorium of white marble with tiered seats, where evidence points to musical performances and wrestling, and old graffiti by fans of rival chariot-racing factions survives on the seats. Around it lie the ruins of large Roman baths, lecture halls believed to have been part of an ancient university, and residential quarters. The site also holds the Villa of the Birds, a Roman house whose floors are covered in fine, colourful mosaics of different birds, and a display of antiquities raised from the sea off the city. A foreign visitor's ticket costs about two hundred Egyptian pounds; it opens from nine to five, and a full visit takes about an hour. It is close to the Alexandria National Museum and the Graeco-Roman Museum.
Ancient graffiti on the seats.
Colourful Roman mosaics.
A Roman town revealed.
Near Misr railway station, central Alexandria
Graeco-Roman MuseumAlexandria's oldest museum, founded in 1892 and opened in its present building w7 minutes walk
Alexandria National MuseumA museum in an elegant Italian-style mansion on Tariq al-Horreya in central Alex13 minutes walk
Pompey's PillarA towering Roman column of red granite rising about twenty-six metres on a hill 20 minutes walk
Bibliotheca AlexandrinaThe new Library of Alexandria, a revival of the memory of the ancient Library of21 minutes walk
Alexandria CornicheThe coastal road that curves along Alexandria's shore for some twenty kilometres21 minutes walkIt holds the only Roman theatre found in Egypt, along with baths, lecture halls and mosaics, in the heart of the modern city.