The Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Rebirth of a Thousand-Year-Old Myth
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina represents one of the most ambitious cultural projects of the 20th century, a tangible tribute to the legendary Great Library of antiquity that made Alexandria the intellectual centre of the ancient world. Inaugurated on 16 October 2002, this extraordinary institution is not simply a library, but a true multidisciplinary cultural centre that aspires to reconnect with the universal spirit of knowledge that animated its illustrious predecessor.
Located on the Corniche seafront of Alexandria, the Bibliotheca rises near the site where the ancient library founded by Ptolemy I Soter in the 3rd century BC is believed to have been located. The choice of location is not accidental: facing the Mediterranean, the modern library looks towards the same waters that once brought merchants, philosophers and scholars from all over the known world to the halls of the greatest collection of knowledge of antiquity.
The Architecture: A Disc of Light on the Mediterranean
The Project of the Snøhetta Studio
The architecture of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is the work of the Norwegian studio Snøhetta, winner of the international competition announced in 1989 by UNESCO in collaboration with the Egyptian government. The project was selected from over 1,400 proposals coming from 77 countries, a testimony to the symbolic importance that the entire world attributed to this initiative.
The structure presents itself as an immense tilted disc 160 metres in diameter that emerges from the ground in the direction of the sea, evoking the sun rising from the waters of the Mediterranean. This form is not purely aesthetic: the inclination allows natural light to filter through the glazed roof and illuminate the eleven cascading levels of the main reading room, while at the same time reducing the need for artificial lighting.
The external perimeter wall, 32 metres high and 550 long, is clad in grey Aswan granite and decorated with characters belonging to 120 different writing systems of the world, from ancient Egyptian to Braille, from Chinese to Arabic. This decorative choice symbolises the universal vocation of the library and its commitment to the conservation of all forms of human cultural expression.
The Interior Spaces
The interior of the Bibliotheca is dominated by the monumental main reading room, which extends over eleven terraced levels connected by ramps and escalators. With a surface of over 70,000 square metres, it is one of the largest reading rooms in the world and can host over 2,000 readers simultaneously. The natural light that penetrates from the glazed roof creates an extraordinary atmosphere of contemplation and inspiration.
The ceilings of the reading room are supported by reinforced concrete columns in the form of stylised lotus flowers, a tribute to the architecture of ancient Egypt that blends harmoniously with the contemporary design. Every detail was conceived to combine functionality and beauty, from the arrangement of the reading stations to the acoustics of the spaces.
The Collections and Resources
A Growing Heritage
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has a capacity of about 8 million volumes, an ambitious objective that places it among the largest libraries in the world. It currently houses over 2 million books in Arabic, English, French and numerous other languages, with collections that range from literature to the sciences, from history to technology.
Among the most precious treasures of the library is the collection of rare and ancient manuscripts, which includes medieval Islamic texts, historical maps and first editions of fundamental works of Arab and world culture. The section dedicated to digitisation works tirelessly to preserve and make these documents accessible through digital platforms.
The library also keeps one of the most important collections of digital archives in the world, including a copy of the Internet Archive that preserves billions of web pages, guaranteeing the conservation of humanity's digital memory. This project perfectly embodies the spirit of the Bibliotheca: to be a bridge between the past and the future of knowledge.
The Four Museums
Within the complex of the Bibliotheca there are four distinct museums, each dedicated to a different aspect of culture and history.
The Museum of Antiquities houses finds that cover the entire history of Egypt, from the pharaonic era to the Islamic period, with particular attention to the finds coming from Alexandria and the Nile Delta. The Museum of Arabic Calligraphy celebrates the art of Islamic writing through a collection of instruments, manuscripts and calligraphic works of extraordinary beauty.
The Science Museum presents interactive exhibitions dedicated to the history of scientific discoveries, with particular attention to the contributions of Arab and Muslim scientists to universal knowledge. Finally, the Sadat Museum is dedicated to the memory of President Anwar al-Sadat and preserves documents, photographs and personal objects linked to his life and his political work.
The Planetarium
The Bibliotheca also houses a state-of-the-art planetarium, a silvery sphere that protrudes from the main complex like an eye turned towards the sky. The planetarium presents astronomical shows that combine the knowledge of ancient Egyptian astronomy with the most recent astrophysical discoveries, creating an immersive experience that fascinates visitors of all ages.
The Bond with the Ancient Library
The Great Library of Antiquity
To fully understand the significance of the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina it is necessary to know the history of its legendary predecessor. The Great Library of Alexandria was founded around 295 BC by the will of Ptolemy I Soter, general of Alexander the Great and founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Under the guidance of its librarians, among whom the famous Eratosthenes who calculated with surprising precision the circumference of the Earth, the library became the greatest centre of study of the ancient world.
It is estimated that the library kept between 400,000 and 700,000 papyrus scrolls, containing the works of all the most important thinkers of antiquity. Here worked Euclid, Archimedes, Aristarchus of Samos and many other giants of thought. The destruction of the library, which occurred gradually over the course of the centuries through fires, sackings and imperial decrees, represents one of the greatest cultural losses in the history of humanity.
A Cultural Bridge between Past and Future
The modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina does not claim to replace the ancient library, but proposes itself as a cultural bridge between the glorious past and the future of knowledge. Through international conferences, academic exchange programmes, temporary exhibitions and digital initiatives, the library promotes intercultural dialogue and scientific cooperation between the peoples of the Mediterranean and of the entire world.
The conference centre of the Bibliotheca regularly hosts events of international scope, attracting intellectuals, scientists, artists and politicians from every corner of the planet. These meetings keep alive the Alexandrian tradition of intellectual confrontation and the exchange of ideas that characterised the ancient Mouseion.
Tips for the Visit
How to Get There
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is located on the Corniche seafront, in the heart of Alexandria. It is easily reachable by taxi from the city centre or from the main Misr railway station. The Alexandria tram passes nearby, with the nearest stop a few minutes on foot. For those who arrive from Cairo, Alexandria is connected by frequent trains that take about 2-3 hours.
Hours and Access
The library is open from Sunday to Thursday, from 10:00 to 19:00. It is closed on Friday and Saturday. Entry to the reading room is free for holders of a library card, while for visitors a ticket is provided that includes access to the reading room and the permanent exhibitions. The museums and the planetarium require separate tickets.
What to See
Dedicate at least three hours to the visit to fully appreciate the richness of the spaces. Begin with the main reading room, then visit the museums and conclude with the show at the planetarium. Do not miss the external wall with the inscriptions in the languages of the world and the view of the Mediterranean from the terrace. The library shop offers an excellent selection of books, artistic reproductions and cultural souvenirs.
Practical Suggestions
Bring an identity document, necessary for access to the reading room. Photography is generally permitted in the common areas but forbidden in the rooms with rare manuscripts. Inside the library there are a bar and a restaurant with a view of the sea, ideal for a break during the visit. WiFi is available free in all the spaces of the library.
To visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina means to immerse oneself in a place where the past and the future of human knowledge meet, where the legacy of the great thinkers of antiquity continues to inspire future generations in a building that is itself a masterpiece of contemporary ingenuity.
