Shore Excursions Group
Private Alexandria Library And Museum
Private Alexandria Library and Museum
Begin your private Alexandria cruise excursion, as you depart the pier for the drive to Alexandria’s National Museum. The museum is housed in the old Al-Saad Bassili Pasha Palace, which dates back to 1923. It is the first museum in Egypt that narrates the history of the people of Alexandria through antiquity, as opposed to being a building storing antiquities. Many of the artifacts within the museum’s collection have not been exhibited before. Each of the museum’s three floors depicts a different period of Egyptian history.
The Pharaonic collection spans each critical period and includes items from the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms. One of the highlights is a replica of a tomb, similar to those in the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank at Luxor (ancient Thebes), that includes a mummy along with genuine funerary items. Alexandria was a Greco-Roman city of great splendor and there is no scarcity of objects from this period, including artifacts raised during underwater excavations around Alexandria in recent years.
The last floor is devoted to Coptic and Islamic items and includes a variety of objects from Egypt’s two most prominent religious traditions. Coptic Christian items include icons of Jesus and the Virgin Mary and the Last Supper. Among the Islamic objects are a collection of gold and silver coins, decorated pottery, doors and mashrabiya windows inset with geometrical ivory ornamentation. There is also a section devoted to the former royal family of Egypt that includes magnificent jewelry, bejeweled gold and silver awards, and other items from their residence.
Next, your drive will continue on for a visit to the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina, built on or near the site of the ancient Library of Alexandria. Built at the beginning of the 3rd century B.C., the ancient library was not only a repository of books; it was also a museum, school and the world’s foremost center for learning and scholarly research. In the 4th century A.D., a fire destroyed both the library and museum.
Your cruise excursion will include a visit to the new library and a walking tour of the grounds, which feature a museum, galleries and a planetarium. Your guide will explain the architecture and UNESCO’s part in the creation. Following your tour, you will return to the pier.
Please Note: The Alexandria Library is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, and will be replaced by a visit to the Citadel of Quait.
| Day 1 |
Welcome to Alexandria, Virginia!
Alexandria is an unique and historic place that keeps pace with the modern world. The City is part of a large metropolitan area surrounding the nation's Capital, yet it has retained its period character. About one-quarter of the town's 15 square miles has been designated as a national or local historic district. Thousands of buildings in these districts are monuments to the past while being actively used by citizens for homes, businesses and museums. Alexandria was home to those who made American history-George Washington, George Mason, and Robert E. Lee-and many other men and women who contributed their skills, emotions and character to build what we know today as the strongest democracy in the world. Today Alexandria is "The Fun Side of the Potomac." Designated as one of America's Top 25 Arts Destinations by American Style Magazine, Alexandria is home to the famed Torpedo Factory Art Center and more than 50 fine art and antique galleries throughout the town. We have more than 300 specialty shops and 200 restaurants offering American and international cuisine. Reasonably priced accommodations at more than 25 comfortable hotels make Alexandria the prime location for a cultural getaway. Our 120,000 residents share a quality of life that is not found in many urban centers. In fact, Ladies Home Journal has ranked Alexandria as one of the "Top Ten Best Cities for Women in the United States," based on quality of life criteria. We are located just 10 minutes from Washington, DC and Reagan National Airport, and we are accessible by Metro, making visits to all the attractions in the Greater Washington area easy. |
| Travel Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
05/03/22 - 04/09/27 |
Starting At $85 |
Get A Quote |
The surfaces at both the library and museum are flat surfaces. A small flight of steps is required to enter the museum. There are flights of stairs connecting the three floors at the museum.
