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Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Alexandria

History & Heritage

About This Place

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Experience the architectural masterpiece of Bibliotheca Alexandrina through immersive virtual exploration. Begin at the striking exterior where the tilted disc-shaped building rises from the Mediterranean coastline, its granite walls inscribed with 120 different writing systems representing human knowledge across civilizations.

Enter the breathtaking main reading hall through the grand entrance. Navigate across 11 cascading levels descending toward the center, each terrace lined with bookshelves and reading desks bathed in natural light from the massive glass roof tilted toward the sea. The open design creates unobstructed views across the entire reading space, one of the world’s most inspiring libraries.

Explore the Antiquities Museum featuring statues, pottery, jewelry, and artifacts recovered from underwater excavations in Alexandria’s ancient harbor. See treasures from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods that once belonged to the ancient city. Visit the Manuscripts Museum housing rare Islamic calligraphy, ancient Coptic texts, and beautifully illuminated medieval books.

Tour the Planetarium dome where immersive shows transport you through the cosmos, explaining ancient Egyptian astronomy and modern space exploration. Navigate through temporary art galleries showcasing contemporary Egyptian and international artists.

Virtually walk the exterior waterfront promenade with stunning Mediterranean views. Examine the granite wall inscriptions up close, discovering alphabets and symbols from civilizations around the world. See the reflecting pool and landscaped gardens that surround the cultural complex.

Interactive features include 3D walkthroughs of museum exhibits, zoomable views of rare manuscripts, virtual access to digital collections, and detailed architectural explanations of the building’s innovative design by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta.

Opened 2002
Book Capacity 8 million volumes
Reading Room Area 20,000 m²
Virtual Tour

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Top Reasons

Why Visit Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Unforgettable experiences await you

World-Class Reading Experience

Study or browse in the magnificent main reading hall with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mediterranean. The cascading terraced levels create an inspiring atmosphere for learning, with collections in Arabic, English, French, and other languages covering all fields of knowledge.

Digital Innovation Hub

Access cutting-edge digital resources including the Internet Archive's digital collection, rare manuscripts digitized in high resolution, and interactive multimedia exhibits. The library serves as a center for digital preservation and modern information technology in the Arab world.

Four Specialized Museums

Explore the Antiquities Museum with Greco-Roman artifacts found underwater in Alexandria's harbor, the Manuscripts Museum with rare Islamic and Coptic texts, the Science Museum with interactive exhibits, and the Shadi Abdel Salam permanent exhibition about Egyptian cinema.

Fascinating Facts

Did You Know?

Capacity for 8 Million Books
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Capacity for 8 Million Books

The modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina can hold up to 8 million books on its shelves. The main reading room is one of the largest in the world, spanning 20,000 square meters across 11 cascading levels under a stunning glass-paneled roof that floods the space with Mediterranean sunlight.

A Sundial Building Design
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A Sundial Building Design

The library's distinctive circular design resembles a giant sundial or the sun rising from the Mediterranean Sea. The granite-clad exterior is engraved with letters, symbols, and characters from 120 different human scripts, celebrating the diversity of written knowledge throughout history.

Ancient Library Revival Project
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Ancient Library Revival Project

Built near the site of the original ancient Library of Alexandria (founded 300 BC), this modern library opened in 2002 as an international project led by Egypt and UNESCO. It honors the legendary ancient library that was once the largest repository of knowledge in the ancient world before its destruction.

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