The Egyptian “Caribbean” can do without rich underwater life. It still has plenty of attractions

From established resorts on the Red Sea, such as Hurghada or Marsa Alam, Marsa Matruh is diametrically opposed. It is still a relatively undeveloped area in terms of tourist infrastructure, which, although it cannot boast of such luxurious hotels as other Egyptian competitors, is much less frequented because of this. Foreign tourists have been coming here only in the last few years, until then it was primarily a popular holiday destination for Egyptians.

No wonder, the coast here is rugged and the white rocks and cliffs contrast sharply with the bright blue color of the sea. “But what’s the point if there’s no underwater life?” I heard a frequent argument against the Marsa Matrúh resort. It’s true, of course, that it’s a relatively lackluster destination for snorkeling and diving, as there are no coral reefs teeming with fish and turtles. On the other hand, it’s a bit short-sighted to condemn the entire area just because of this one factor. The Mediterranean Marsa offers many attractions, you just have to drive a bit to find them.

In ancient Egypt, there was only a fishing village on the site of today’s Marsa Matruh. Nevertheless, it was not completely insignificant, otherwise Pharaoh Ramses II. he probably did not have the temple built. Later, the settlement was conquered by Alexander the Great, and during the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty, it was an important transit point for the export of Egyptian grain to Rome. One of the local beaches is named after the most famous Ptolemaic queen, Cleopatra. Not by chance, she allegedly used to bathe here.

The Egyptian oasis of Siwa beckons to lakes saltier than the Dead Sea. You won’t mind tourists there

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Today, Marsa Matruh is a medium-sized city, which does not offer many sights to tourists, but they can soak up the real Egyptian atmosphere here. Busy streets pulsate with life, especially around the local market, where you can buy edible and non-edible souvenirs, be it olives, tea mixes, spices and the like. It is true that the locals, not yet quite used to European tourists, often stare more than anyone would be comfortable with.

However, you don’t go to Marsa Matrúh to stroll around the city. Real experiences await in the desert, especially in the breathtaking oasis of Síwa, which is a good four hours away from the coast. But rolling across the wasteland is definitely worth it. If only because you don’t really encounter crowds of tourists there.

The center of the vast oasis is the remains of a fortress, but there are also the ruins of the temple of the god Amon. Alexander the Great was supposed to visit the local oracle to find out if he would one day rule the whole world. Although he failed to do so, his empire was incredibly vast at its peak, covering most of the known world at the time. When the warlord died, his body disappeared and it is not known where it was deposited. However, one of the versions claims that Alexander rests in Siwa on the local Mount of the Dead.

This is, of course, pure speculation and to some extent marketing. Still, the Mountain of the Dead offers some beautifully decorated tombs, though of course they fall short of the splendor of the Valley of the Kings. It doesn’t matter, you can also admire incredibly well-preserved paintings with hieroglyphs in the Egyptian and Greek style, and a sharp eye will not miss the god of harvest and fertility, Osiris.

Other attractions of the Síwa Oasis are the turquoise salt lakes, which are semi-artificial and are created by seeping underground water into excavated holes. Salt is used, for example, to make salt lamps, which is also why you can bathe in the lakes.

Another bathing experience is provided by Cleopatra’s bath – yes, the famous queen was supposed to wet her body here as well. The historian Herodotus described the spring as the eye of the sun; the round pool is popular today mainly among the locals.

The area around Marsa Matrúh is not only steeped in ancient history, but also a much younger one. It was on the northern coast of Egypt that many clashes took place during World War II, between the Nazi Afrikakorps and the Allies. Two important battles took place near the city of El Alamein, a relatively large army museum commemorates them. Soldiers’ uniforms, heavy equipment and period photographs can be seen there.

A separate chapter is the scattered cemeteries of soldiers who fell during the battles for Africa, either directly in Egypt or in Libya. There are British, German and Italian cemeteries, each laid out a little differently. For example, the Italian duke is dominated by a tall alabaster white tower with a similarly light interior. Instead of tombstones, there are plaques – one next to the other – with names, and next to it is the inscription “ignoto”, i.e. unknown.

At Mars Matruh itself, there is Rommel’s cave with a museum. In these places, the German general, nicknamed the “desert fox” and considered one of the best tacticians of the Second World War, was supposed to hide while planning operations. However, he himself later lobbied for the withdrawal of German troops from Africa, which Hitler did not allow him to do. Erwin Rommel eventually became an undesirable and was forced to commit suicide with a cyanide capsule.

The city of El Alamein is about a two-hour drive from Mars Matruh. Traveling further along the coast, tourists will reach the famous Alexandria, the second largest city in Egypt, named after Alexander the Great and home to the most famous and comprehensive library on the planet in ancient times. And besides it, also the lighthouse on the island of Faros, one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

Not one of the monuments has survived to this day. The lighthouse was gradually destroyed by several earthquakes and the library was reduced to ashes. Today, one of Alexandria’s landmarks, the Kajt Bej fortress, stands on the island of Faros, and a new library has been built. Although it no longer reaches the significance of the original, it is still interesting, and not only architecturally.

In addition to books, there is also a section with various ancient artifacts and/or ancient writings. Visitors can also see a copy of the only scroll that escaped the flames during the fire of the original sanctuary of knowledge. The original is kept in Vienna, to the displeasure of the Egyptians.

Other attractions of Egypt’s second largest city include the catacombs of Kom el Shokafa, considered to be the largest Greco-Roman burial site in the country. The tombs, which are over two thousand years old, are particularly famous for their detailed decoration, and on hot days they also offer a pleasant escape from the relentless and constantly burning sun.

In ancient times it was the center of all knowledge. But it has not lost its meaning even after thousands of years

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