Alexandria
is a city speaks Art, wandering its
streets requires from you to keep your
head up while you walk around, in order to picture with your eyes a remarkable
artistic touch has brushed this city especially its architecture.
Since
the time of its foundation, the history wrote pages about the exceptional role
it played in various fields of arts, a leading center of creativity that how it
was titled by both early and contemporary historians.
Alexandria gained special attention from The Mohammed Ali's dynasty (1805-1950),
Mohammed Ali had adopted a construction project and the city has witnessed a
huge development in architecture, an innovatory and new basis have been
applied.
There
were efforts to modernize Egypt.
Mohamed Ali and later his son Ismail called in foreign experts to develop the
country’s infrastructure and civil administration. Italian experts played a
major role in that process, especially towards Alexandria to convert it to a modern city,
allowing foreign influence to revive its past heritage with a modern touch.
There
is a great influence of the Alexandrian history on its built environment; it
was marked with architectural elements and ornamental Motifs inspired by
diverse cultures lived on its land, being represented in arty
Figures
and symbols such protective heads or heroes from ancient Egyptian & Greek
mythology, and more were coming out of religious symbols whether Christian or
Islamic.
Some
of these examples of unique Alexandrian architecture would be noted in :
Misr
Train station (Alexandria),Mahtet
Misr in Arabic,the train station façade are fronted with columns which are
decorated with a sculpted head in a pharaonic style and is flanked by a branch
of Lotus plants .Construction
year: 1915-1925
Architects:
(Italians) Antonio Lasciac & Leonidas Iconomopolou .
A
walking along Fouad avenue
will lead you to Sayed Darwich theatre,it's The Alexandria Opera House which
was constructed in 1918 during the reign of Sultan Fuad I and named "Mohamed Ali Theatre".
The original owner was Badr El Din Kerdany , A Lebanese resident who had
appointed French architect Georges Baroque to do the design. In 1962 the
theatre was renamed "Sayed Darwish Theatre" in honour of this
pioneer of Arab music.
In
search of a royal art, The Kiosk or Tea villa is the best object, it locates in
the garden of Al Montazah which is about 3000 meters
wide, Montaza was a popular spot for the royal palaces. The area that once
belonged to Mohamed Ali’s family .This villa was the favorite spot for former
King Farouk to have his 5 o'clock tea and meeting the elite of Egyptian society
at that time .The building is fronted on 2 sides by life-size statues,
representing good-looking women, resembling the Classic Greek art, even the
portico of the villa is formed in a shape of Greek temple.
Back
to city center, where a genuine piece of architecture stands high in Sultan Hassan
Street, It's Mohamed Fieter 's Building; one of few buildings still remain in city center reflecting the luxurious and
rich architecture. It belongs to a wealthy Alexandrian family.
At
the highest part of the building, there are two colossal statues on both edges,
wearing warrior costumes and holding swords, as a symbol of guarding the edifice.
Also a remarkable sculpted crown is at the center which carries the initial of
the building owner.
Tracing
the influence of spiritual beliefs is essential in a city has been always known
for embracing the divine religions.My eyes were caught by an administrative
building has a unique decorative element that represents St.Mark in a form of a
lion, with a winged body and human head, holding a bible in his hands.
St.
Mark is the author of 'Gopsel of Mark", he
was one of the seventy that Christ appointed to spread his teachings. He came
to Alexandria
in 61 A.C and stayed for about seven years. He is considered the founder of the
church in Alexandria And also the first
martyr by pagans who were angry of spreading the message of Christianity.
In Coptic art, he was incarnated as a lion, it was one of his miracles that during a hunt journey with his father, he was attacked by two wild lions, but defeated them by saying prayers that once he finished the lions were departed in fear .
In Coptic art, he was incarnated as a lion, it was one of his miracles that during a hunt journey with his father, he was attacked by two wild lions, but defeated them by saying prayers that once he finished the lions were departed in fear .
Another
unique sculpted façade ,is of the Church of St.Catherine , The present church
locates in Manshiya small square –Alexandria, it was built in 1850 by
Fr.Serafino Da Baceno and reconstructed in 1920 by Mario Avena .It's a model of
Chiesa di S. Maria dei Servi Toscana in
Italy .St.Catherine
was a Christian virgin and a popular early martyr, In Alexandria; she rebuked
the Roman emperor Maxentius for his persecution of Christians and converted the
philosophers he had ordered to debate with her. The emperor condemned her to be
broken on the wheel, but, by a miracle, the wheel collapsed.She was afterward beheaded. Saint Catherine's body is
said to have been discovered on Mount Sinai in
about 800. The Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai
dates from 527 A.C was founded and became a pilgrimage spot.
Domes of Sidi Yaqut Mosque
In
the oldest district of the city, A pearl of Islamic architecture is sparkling,
the last king of Mohamed Ali's family; King Farouk (1937.-1952), had sought to
make Alexandria the Jewel of the Mediterranean but with preserving its Arabic glory. There,
he built a wide square known as "Midan el Masaged", or the "Square of Mosques". The Mosque of Abu el
Abbas el Mursi was the focal point and center of this square, and it is
surrounded by five other mosques, among which is that of al-Busiri and Sidi Yaqut
al- 'Arshi.
During
(1928 &1935) the mosque was reconstructed and restored by the government in
a beautiful Arabian style. The Italian-born architects: Eugenio Valzania &
Mario Rossi undertook the mission of supervising this reconstruction
Fouad Avenue is considered to be the heart of the city, and also where a large
number of the thirties and forties century buildings stand. A course of
buildings distinguish the development of world architecture, it's a study case
can't be found anyplace else. Especially this unusual mausoleum of Saint
(Sheik)to be centered between domestic buildings ,with colored walls in red and
yellow ,like a petite blossoming rose in
middle of blocks .
'a
Little Venice in Alexandria', is the best title to be given to this well
executed construction , In 1929 a municipal prize for best façade has been
given to this building ,which stands on the cornice –Eastern port, combining
simple architectural characteristics with
artistic mosaic walls.
Alexandria
is a city that has a hidden treasure ,
full of stories can be told through its construction, which put us back in time
to breeze the brilliance of past, It's a city would never vanish or let grime
covers its beauty .
written by :
Nermine
Sami Abd El Fattah
Freelancer
Tour guide & Archaeologist
special Thanks to Eman H. Zidan
for Article editing and publishing in:
