There’s a certain buzz that hits a traveler when history suddenly feels… current. Like when you’re standing by the Mediterranean in Alexandria, salty breeze tangling your hair, and news breaks – something lost for over six centuries has quietly surfaced again. Not metaphorically. Literally. Stones. Massive ones. The kind that once guided ships and scared storms away.
This story belongs to the seven wonders of the ancient world, but it also belongs to sweaty afternoon walks, strong coffee, and that slightly cracked sidewalk near the harbor where seagulls argue louder than taxi horns. So get ready to time travel, grab cheap flights to Alexandria, and bring tons of creativity. The ancient world is calling you.
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So What Just Happened In Egypt?
Archaeologists recently confirmed that long-submerged blocks off Alexandria’s coast are officially tied to the Lighthouse of Alexandria, built around 280 BCE during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Back then, this thing wasn’t just impressive, it was flexing. The beacon stood guard at Pharos Island, helping sailors navigate Egypt’s busiest port while quietly earning a place among the Seven Wonders of the World.
After earthquakes in 956 CE, 1303 CE, and the final blow in 1323 CE, the lighthouse collapsed, its remains swallowed by the sea. Or so everyone thought. Turns out, history just needed scuba gear.
Today, divers describe the site as surreal. Columns scattered like fallen dominoes. Carved stone blocks crusted with sea life. This is Lighthouse of Alexandria today, not shiny or rebuilt, but raw and honest.
Strolling Through Alexandria
Image Credit: Mostafa Mahdy/Unsplash
Alexandria smells like salt, diesel, and frying falafel, the kind of mix that sticks to clothes long after leaving the waterfront. Street vendors shout prices over honking taxis, coffee comes thick and sweet for about a dollar, and a warm fish sandwich might run three bucks if bargaining doesn’t totally fall apart.
A traveler wandering near the harbor can drift surprisingly close to the Lighthouse of Alexandria ruins, where there’s no fence or ticket booth, just choppy waves rolling over stones that once mattered more than maps. For comfort seekers, bundled all-inclusive Egypt tour packages cover transport, guides, and a cruise on the Nile.
For the detail lovers, the Lighthouse of Alexandria Facts read almost unreal even by ancient standards. Built in the early 3rd century BCE, the structure rose somewhere between 100 and 130 meters, putting the lighthouse of Alexandria height just shy of today’s modern skyscrapers. Sailors crossing the Mediterranean relied on its fire and polished stone reflections long before GPS or even reliable compasses existed. This chapter of Lighthouse of Alexandria history is being pieced back together through digital reconstruction, using sonar scans and underwater mapping to recreate the monument block by block.
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Practical Stuff (Because Curiosity Needs Logistics)
Image Credit: George Youssef/Unsplash
Getting here is easy-ish. Flights to Egypt cost $500–$800 on average for round-trip from Europe or the Middle East, about a 4-5 hour flight. From Cairo, Alexandria is a 2.5-hour train ride costing under $10. A taxi from Borg El Arab Airport runs about $15.
Entry-wise, travelers can apply for an Egypt visa online in under 15 minutes. Currency exchange is best done at the airport. ATMs are everywhere, sometimes moody.
Staying over? Search for the top hotels in Alexandria if doing a split trip, or snag seaside stays in Alexandria around $60–$120 per night. Pro tip: ask locals about the best hotel in Alexandria answers vary wildly, opinions even more so.
What Are The Other Wonders Of The World
Travelers love lists because they promise order in a very messy world. The original 7 Wonders of the World were once the ultimate brag, structures like the Great Pyramid or the Hanging Gardens, built without modern machines, meant to prove what humans could pull off with stubbornness.
Fast forward a couple thousand years and the Seven Wonders of the Modern World entered the chat, spotlighting places like Machu Picchu and Petra, destinations now shaped as much by Instagram angles and guided tour schedules as by history itself.
Then there are the 7 natural Wonders of the World, which include Iguazu Falls roaring loud enough to drown out your thoughts, or the Northern Lights flickering like the sky forgot to behave.
Wrapping Up
In the end, this isn’t about checking off another famous site or ranking wonders like souvenirs on a shelf. It’s about standing near the water in Alexandria, feeling the breeze stick to your skin, watching waves slap against old stone, and realizing that some stories don’t disappear; they just sink for a while. The lighthouse didn’t come back shiny or complete, and that’s kind of the point. Its fragments feel more honest, more human, a reminder that even the grandest achievements crack, fall, and wait patiently to be remembered again. Among the Seven Wonders of the World, this one doesn’t shout anymore. It whispers. And somehow, that makes it even more powerful for any traveler willing to slow down and listen.
FAQs – Lighthouse of Alexandria
What happened to the Alexandria lighthouse?
It was destroyed by a series of earthquakes over several centuries, with the last stones used to build a fort in the late 15th century.
What is so special about the Lighthouse of Alexandria?
It was incredibly tall for an ancient building, one of the tallest man-made structures ever—and it pioneered the design of lighthouses around the world, even lending its name to the word “lighthouse” in many languages.
How far underwater is Alexandria?
Alexandria itself isn’t underwater; it’s a bustling modern coastal city. The ancient harbor ruins, including the lighthouse remains, are submerged on the seabed in the Eastern Harbour.
Can you still see the Lighthouse of Alexandria?
You can’t see the original standing structure, but you can view some of the recovered stone blocks in museums and within the walls of the Citadel of Qaitbay, or you can scuba dive to see the rest underwater.
Who was responsible for the burning of Alexandria?
The story of the “burning of Alexandria” refers to several incidents, but the most famous destruction of the Great Library is often attributed to Julius Caesar’s troops in 48 BCE during a siege, though the damage extent is debated.
Which ancient wonder still exists?
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that is still mostly intact and visible today.
What are the 7 wonders of the world currently?
The New7Wonders of the World are the Great Wall of China, Petra, Christ the Redeemer statue, Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza, the Colosseum, and the Taj Mahal.
Why is the lighthouse of Alexandria a Wonder?
It was considered a wonder because of its staggering height, revolutionary engineering, and the incredible effective use of fire and mirrors to guide sailors from miles away, making it a masterpiece of ancient technology.
Are the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria underwater?
Yes, most of the remaining massive stone blocks and statues that fell into the sea are now located on the seabed of Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour.
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