Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is Alexandria's bold modern tribute to the legendary ancient Library, once the greatest repository of knowledge in the classical world before it was lost. Opened in 2002 on the harbour near its presumed original site, the building is a striking sight in itself: a vast tilted disc, like a second sun rising from the sea, its granite exterior carved with characters from every writing system on Earth.

Inside, a breathtaking cascade of reading terraces steps down beneath a slanted glass roof, with shelf space for millions of books. Beyond the stacks are museums of antiquities and manuscripts, planetarium shows and rotating exhibitions. More than a library, it is a living cultural centre and Alexandria's proudest modern landmark.