Eastern Harbour of Alexandria, Alexandria

The Eastern Harbour is one of the Mediterranean’s most historic waterfronts. In antiquity, it formed part of the royal port, with palaces, temples, naval activity, and political power nearby. Beneath its waters lie Antirhodos, the submerged island linked with Cleopatra VII’s royal quarter. Surveys have revealed marble floors, columns, statues, and palace foundations tied to the Ptolemaic court.

This ancient landscape disappeared after a series of natural disasters, including the powerful earthquake and tsunami of 365 CE, which caused major damage along the eastern Mediterranean coast. Sinking shoreline sealed parts of the royal quarter beneath silt, protecting many objects for centuries. Among the remains are structures linked to the Timoneum, Mark Antony’s retreat after Actium.

At the harbour’s western edge, the Citadel of Qaitbay marks the site traditionally associated with the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Work near the fortress has recorded thousands of blocks and statue fragments linked to the lighthouse. Some ancient stone was reused in the 15th-century citadel, while the shallow harbour now serves fishing boats, sailing clubs, and archaeological research.