Named for Alexander the Great, the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria is no less impressive than its founder. From the ancient to the modern, this “Pearl of the Mediterranean” strikes a perfect balance between the richness of history and the bustle of tourism and commerce. While the Great Library at Alexandria has been lost to time, the ultramodern Bibliotheca Alexandrina memorializes its predecessor in a beautiful, contemporary space where history, culture, philosophy, art and science come together under one roof. Steps from the library is Alexandria’s wide waterfront promenade, the Corniche. While the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque and Citadel of Qaitbay are must-sees along this path, the Corniche itself is as much a symbol of the city as any of its many monuments. For a break from the sightseeing, miles of Alexandria’s golden beaches mark this historical city as a year-round seaside resort.