Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a stunning modern library and cultural complex built to recapture the spirit of the original Great Library of Alexandria, which was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. Opened in 2002, the building's striking circular design, tilted toward the sea like a sun disk rising from the Mediterranean, has made it an architectural icon of modern Egypt.

The Building

Designed by the Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, the library features a massive 32-meter-high glass-paneled wall facing the sea and an exterior wall carved with characters from 120 different human scripts. The main reading room, one of the largest in the world at 70,000 square meters, can accommodate 2,000 readers across eleven cascading terraces under a spectacular roof structure.

Beyond Books

The complex houses several specialized libraries, four museums (including the Antiquities Museum and the Manuscript Museum), a planetarium, and multiple art galleries. The institution hosts regular international conferences, exhibitions, and cultural events, serving as a vibrant center of intellectual and cultural life in the Mediterranean region.