The Touristic Development of the Archaeological and Heritage Areas in Alexandria City, Egypt

Authors: Salma I. Dwidar, Amal A. Abdelsattar

Abstract:

Alexandria city is one of the greatest cities in the world. It confronted different civilizations throughout the ages due to its special geographical location and climate which left many archaeological areas of great heritage (Ptolemaic, Greek, Romanian, especially sunken monuments, Coptic, Islamic, and finally, the Modern). Also, Alexandria city contains areas with different patterns of urban planning, both Hellenistic and compacted planning which merited the diversity in planning. Despite the magnitude of this city, which contains all the elements of tourism, the city was not included in the tourism map of Egypt properly comparing with similar cities in Egypt. This paper discusses the importance of heritage areas in Alexandria and the relationship between heritage areas and modern buildings. It highlights the absence of a methodology to deal with heritage areas as touristic areas. Also, the paper aims to develop multiple touristic routes to visit archaeological areas and other sights of significance in Alexandria. The research methodology is divided into two main frameworks. The first framework is a historical study of the urban development of Alexandria and the most important remaining monuments throughout the ages, as well as an analytical study of sunken monuments and their importance in increasing the rate of tourism. Moreover, it covers a study of the importance of the Library of Alexandria and its effect on the international focus of the city. The second framework focuses on the proposal of some tourism routes to visit the heritage areas, archaeological monuments, sunken monuments and the sights of Alexandria. The study concludes with the proposal of three tourism routes. The first route, which is the longest one, passes by all the famous monuments of the city as well as its modern sights. The second route passes through the heritage areas, sunken monuments, and Library of Alexandria. The third route includes the sunken monuments and Library of Alexandria. These three tourism routes will ensures the touristic development of the city which leads to the economic growth of the city and the country.

Keywords: Archeological buildings, heritage buildings, heritage tourism, planning of Islamic cities.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2580958

References:

[1] Decobert, Christian. Empereur, Jean-Yves.” Alexandria Medieval 1”. Cairo: I. F. A. O.1998.
[2] Shehata, Hanna Youssef; Ghariani, Youssef Mofed." the monuments of Alexandria Guide." (Second Edition) .Alexandria, 1987.
[3] Ghonima ; Abdul Fattah; Sheikh Hussein. Alexandria splendor of giving and take. The General Body to Activate Tourism, 2001.
[4] Abdul Wahab, Lutfi. Alexandria history and civilization since ancient times. Alexandria: The Governorate of Alexandria 1963.
[5] Ilbert, Robert. "Alexandria 1830-1930. Histoire of a City Community". Vol. 2, Cairo: I.F.A.O, in 1996.
[6] Philipe, Arnaud. " Quartier of the Customs has Alexandria". Paris 1989.
[7] Volait, Mercedes. "Cairo-Alexandria Architectures Europeennes. 1850-1950".
[8] Cairo: I.F.A.O., C.E.D.E.J. 2001.
[9] Sophie Boukhari & Hala Halim, Alexandria “Swimming with the sphinxes”, Published in UNESCO Sources, February 1997.
[10] Angela M.H. Schuster,” Mapping Alexandria's royal quarters”, Archaeological Institute of America, Volume 52 Number 2 March/April 1999.
[11] Stephan A. Schwartz - The Mobius Group Archeology & R. V. Eastern Harbor,” A Preliminary survey of the eastern harbor, Alexandria, Egypt Including a comparison of side scan sonar and remote viewing” Alexandria, Egypt, © Copyrights Inter Dimensions® 1996-2003.
[12] Paul Garwood,” Dive to Alexandria's sunken cities “, Archeological finds, The Associated Press, 2001.
[13] Frost, H., ”The Pharos Site, Alexandria, Egypt”, International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 4:126–130, (1975).
[14] Mondo Sommerso and Schwartz, S.A.,” Operation Alexandria’, pp. 237–270, (1985).
[15] The preliminary report published in BCH, 119:424–457 other accounts will appear regularly in forthcoming issues of the BCH and of the BIFAO. (1995).
[16] Brahm Rosensweig,” Raising the lost city of Cleopatra”, October 28, 1998.
[17] Jean-Yves Empereur,” Diving on a sunken city”, The Archaeological Institute of America, Volume 52 Number 2 March/April 1999.
[18] Jean-YVES Emereur, Centre d’Études Alexandrines,” Alexandria Underwater archaeological investigations of the ancient Pharos”, Coastal management sourcebooks 2, 2000.
[19] Submarine archaeology and coastal management: Steps towards an Integrated Solution in Alexandria, Egypt, The International Workshop on Submarine Archaeology and Coastal Management, held in Alexandria, Egypt, from 7-11 April 1997.
[20] “Ancient secrets in dirty water”, Diver magazine - online, March 2002.
[21] Yousef Halim and Fatma Abou Shouk, “Human impacts on Alexandria’s marine environment “, Coastal management sourcebooks 2, Submarine archaeology and coastal management: Steps towards an Integrated Solution in Alexandria, Egypt, The International Workshop on Submarine Archaeology and Coastal Management, held in Alexandria, Egypt, from 7-11 April 1997.
[22] Submarine archaeology and coastal management: Steps towards an Integrated Solution in Alexandria, Egypt, “The International Workshop on Submarine Archaeology and Coastal Management”, held in Alexandria, Egypt, from 7-11 April 1997.
[23] Abdel Raouf, Ali. “Architecture in Egypt”. Riyadh: Journal of Construction, number 21, April 2001.