Author(s)

NOURHAN H. ABDEL-RAHMAN

Abstract

Alexandria is one of the largest cities in Egypt in terms of population and urban density, second only to Cairo. Since its origination in the 300s BC, it has been one of the biggest metropolises in the ancient world, culturally, intellectually, politically and economically. Alexandria’s classy urban environment over the different eras was always reflected in the creation of gardens and public spaces for its residents since the Ptolemaic era. This paper aims to present a descriptive profile of the historical parks and gardens in Alexandria, and to track the evolution of these parks, from their initial design to their current state today. This record introduces a comparative criticism of the historical and physical deterioration of these valuable landscapes. The paper also reviews the urban growth of the city and encroachment over these parks through time. The parks and gardens under review are Nozha Complex, which includes Antoniadis Garden, Nozha Garden, Rose Garden, and Alexandria Zoo Garden; as well Montazah Gardens and Shalalat Gardens. These parks are examined individually in terms of their history, significance and evolution.

Keywords

Alexandria, historical parks, urban deterioration, cultural landscapes, Antoniadis Complex, Montazah Gardens, Shalalat Gardens