Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Alexandria: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa sit beneath Alexandria's Karmouz neighborhood, a three-level Roman funerary complex carved into bedrock during the 2nd century AD and used through the 4th century. The burial chambers descend roughly 35 meters underground and combine Egyptian funerary iconography with Greek and Roman sculptural conventions, reflecting the hybrid culture of Roman Alexandria. The main chamber holds sarcophagi carved directly from the living rock. The site was found again in 1900 when a donkey fell through the surface into the complex below. Admission runs around 100 Egyptian pounds. is just one of many options in Alexandria. Major attractions worth considering include Alexandria National Museum, Citadel of Qaitbay (Fort Qaitbey), and Montazah Palace Gardens.