Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa

The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa are the largest known Roman burial site in Egypt and are among the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Discovered in 1900 when a donkey fell into the shaft, the three underground levels extend 35 meters deep.

The fascinating aspect is the fusion of cultures: Egyptian gods are depicted in Roman togas, Greek Medusa heads flank pharaonic scenes. The site dates back to the 2nd century AD — a time when Alexandria was a melting pot of civilizations. In the main tomb, there are three sarcophagi adorned with reliefs that depict Egyptian afterlife beliefs in a Greco-Roman style.

The catacombs are damp and narrow — claustrophobics should be prepared. But the atmosphere is unique: you literally descend into 2,000 years of history.