Heraklion, Egypt

From series “Famous Sunken Towns”

The ancient city of Heraklion lost in the sea depth is a historic treasure of global significance. It was founded more than 2,000 years ago, at the mouth of the Nile. The former has remained the most important strategic point of Egypt for many years. Currently, surviving buildings of the ancient city lie at the bottom of the Gulf of Aboukir, about 6 meters under the surface of the sea. The discovery of this unique historic site is accredited to the research group guided by Franck Goddio.

Scientists were looking for wrecks of Napoleonic fleet, so the discovery of the ancient city was a big surprise for them. The sunken city has its interesting sights, among which the Temple of Hercules deserves special attention. Nearby there are the ruins of the temples dedicated to Anubis and Isis; huge statues of ancient gods resting at the bottom are of particular interest.

Reasons for this once thriving town to be flooded remain unclear. Only one thing is doubtless - the ancient city was stroked by a sudden and overpowering element. Precious artifacts, which scientists have discovered at the archaeological area, prove that. Local residents left their homes very quickly, but that’s possible that the disaster has killed thousands of people. No historical evidence of strong earthquakes and floods in the period of interest is known today. There are hundreds of priceless artifacts raised from the bottom of the Gulf of Aboukir; you can admire them in local museums.

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Alexandria, Egypt

Samabaj, Guatemala

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Heraklion - interactive map

Useful staff nearby

ATM bankomat: 'Faisal Islamic Bank Of Egypt - ATM' located in 7.17 km (

check the route on the map).

Car rental office: 'El Sadaka' is located in 9 km (

on the map).

Supermarket: 'Om El Nour' in 14 km

Parking: 'Parking' in 12 km

Apotheek: 'Dr. Ahmed Fahmy Pharmacy' in 10 km

Police station: 'El Montazah Second Police Station' in 10 km

Cafe/restaurant: 'Chili's' in 14 km

Railway station: 'El Tabia Train Station' in 8 km

Nearest airports:
» Alexandria International Airport ALY - in 24 km

» Borg el Arab International Airport HBE - in 61 km

» Cairo Airport CAI - in 177 km

» Port Said Airport PSD - in 196 km

Atop rain clouds. The Highest Buildings in the World

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Cities nearby

» Guide to Alexandria

» Cuisine & restaurants

» Traditions & mentality

» Culture & art

» Attractions & nightlife

» Tips for tourists

» Hotels in Alexandria

» Car rent in Alexandria

» Limousines

» Guide to Cairo

» Cuisine & restaurants

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» Culture & art

» Attractions & nightlife

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» Hostels

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» Limousines

Best hotels near Heraklion

Maamoura Beach Family Apartment 1

Located in 12 km from Heraklion
Route on the map:

Rooms: 1

Including a balcony, the air-conditioned apartment comes with a twin room and a double room. A shower is fitted in the bathroom. You can fix a meal … More: photo, rates and booking

Villa El Maghawry Alexandria

Located in 13 km from Heraklion
Route on the map:

Rooms: 1

All accommodation at Villa El Maghawry feature tiled floors and wooden furniture. Simply decorated, each apartment boasts a garden view and includes … More: photo, rates and booking

Aifu Resort

Located in 14 km from Heraklion
Route on the map:

Rooms: 86

The air-conditioned accommodations at Aifu are decorated in a contemporary style. Each room has a modern, private bathroom. After a refreshing swim, … More: photo, rates and booking

Montazah Two Bedroom Furnished Apartment Alexandria

Located in 15 km from Heraklion
Route on the map:

Rooms: 1

Featuring a balcony, the apartment has a simple décor. It includes a dining area and an American kitchen complete with an oven, stove, fridge and … More: photo, rates and booking

Nearest unique sightseeing spots to visit

26 km - Alexandria

From the series 'Famous Sunken Towns'

Alexandria is one of the oldest cities on the planet; amazing stories and legends about Cleopatra are associated with it. The important underwater attraction has been recently discovered by scientists off the coast of Alexandria. As it was found out after a large-scale …

28 km - Alexandria Lighthouse

From the series 'Seven Wonders of the World'

In 332 BC, Alexander the Great has founded the city, which was called Alexandria. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was the main symbol of the city, which in a few years gained the status of a major port and commercial center. It's the seventh wonder of the world. The …

101 km - Monasteries of Wadi Natrun

From the series ' Survived Artifacts of Early Christian Civilization'

Many unique attractions and Christian artifacts are hidden among the desert landscapes of Egypt. The Wadi Natrun desert is a great example. One of the main features of this area is a variety of lakes; local water has high sodium contain. Devotees and tourists are …

172 km - 6th October Bridge

From the series 'The Longest Bridges in the World'

In Cairo is the bridge of 6 October with the length of 20.5 km. This bridge crosses the Nile twice and connects the western part of the city to the international airport, which is located in the eastern part of Cairo. The bridge was named to honor the important …

173 km - City of the Gods

From the series 'Unbelievable Underground Mini-Cities'

The Great Pyramid of Cheops is the utmost Wonder of the World. Right under it was found one of the most mysterious and outstanding underground cities of the world. The first researching works were held there in 1978. The underground tunnel that they found was named …

174 km - Great Sphinx

From the series 'The Oldest Surviving Monuments on Earth'

The Great Sphinx of Giza is probably one of the most famous and recognizable ancient monuments in the world. The ones in Giza. The huge statue, which is not far from the Cheops pyramid, attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists and is considered one of the most …

Top destination around Heraklion - Alexandria

Stanley Bridge slightly contrasts with the historic buildings. It was built in a modern style, however, in spite of this fact, it is still considered to be a prominent architectural landmark which is definitely worth visiting. Known for its unique appearance, lovers have for long set their hearts on it because it is one of the most romantic places in the city. That said, one must go and visit the Corniche at least in order to enjoy the best views of the sea. This is one of the longest quays in Egypt, and walking along it will be such a pleasure.

The ruins of the Roman amphitheater reminiscent of the Roman reign in Egypt are one of the most noticeable landmarks in the city. However, as it turned out, the building used to be the Alexandria University (Kom El-Deka). Nonetheless, by the time it was discovered, the name “Roman Amphitheater” had already been firmly established. This is one of the most significant structures of antiquity, not only in Egypt, but throughout the world. The place is notable for the fact that each stone is ideally processed and also perfectly fitted to another stone. It is one of the most important attractions of the city, and therefore must be seen.
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