The Roman Amphitheatreالمسرح الروماني

The amphitheatre is a graceful semicircular auditorium with around thirteen tiers of white and grey marble seats, capable of holding several hundred spectators. Discovered in the 1960s during construction work, it is the only Roman amphitheatre found in Egypt. Used from Roman times onward for musical performances, contests, and public assemblies, it even retains marks left by spectators, and its fine acoustics still impress visitors who stand at its centre today.

The amphitheatre is only one part of the large Kom el-Dikka archaeological site, which preserves a slice of the Roman and Byzantine city — Roman baths, cisterns, and a complex of lecture halls that may have been part of a late-antique university. A highlight is the Villa of the Birds, a Roman house famous for its beautifully preserved floor mosaics depicting birds and geometric patterns, giving a charming, intimate glimpse into the homes and tastes of ancient Alexandrians.

The site sits right in central Alexandria, an easy and rewarding stop. Walking among its columns, seats, and mosaics, with the modern city all around, it is easy to sense the layers of history beneath the streets. It pairs well with the city's other Graeco-Roman treasures — the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa and Pompey's Pillar — for a fascinating day exploring the ancient face of Alexandria.

• What it is: the only Roman amphitheatre in Egypt.
• Arabic name: المسرح الروماني (the Roman Amphitheatre).
• Where: the Kom el-Dikka site in central Alexandria.
• Features: ~13 tiers of marble seats; discovered in the 1960s.
• Nearby: Roman baths, lecture halls, and the Villa of the Birds mosaics.
• Pairs with: the Catacombs and Pompey's Pillar.

Sources include standard histories of Graeco-Roman Alexandria. Some details are approximate.