It is the country's main port city and is located on the Mediterranean Sea, on the western side of the Nile Delta.
Founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great,
it was a world-renowned center of learning for centuries, with the famous Library of Alexandria and the Lighthouse of Pharos (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World).
Today, it is Egypt's largest port (accounting for approximately 60% of imports/exports), a major industrial center (including chemicals, textiles, and shipbuilding), and a popular summer holiday destination with beautiful beaches.
The city of Alexandria itself (the capital of the governorate) is also called the "Bride of the Mediterranean" because of its location, mild climate, and long corniche (seaside promenade).
Famous sights include the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Qaitbay Citadel, Pompey's Column, the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, and the Montaza Palace.
In short: a historic, cosmopolitan port city with a mix of antiquity, beach, and modern industry – a far cry from "classical" Egypt of pyramids and Luxor.
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