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GUIDE OF MARSA MATROUH

Continent: Africa

Country: Egyptian Republic

Capital: Cairo

Geographical position: 240 km west of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast

Currency: Egyptian Lira (EGP)

Official language: Arabic. English is fluently spoken

Time difference with Italy: +1 hour in winter and from March until the last Thursday of September

International phone code: 0020 46 and then the local phone number

Document for entry: passport or Identity Card, for travels in an organized group, along with two recent passport-size photographs

Electricity: 220 V

Information

Marsa Matrouh is the major centre in Egypt close to the Libyan border. In ancient times it was visited by Alexander the Great, on his travels to reach the oracle of Amon in Siwa, and by the historical couple Cleopatra and Mark Antony. During WW II the entire region was involved in some of the most significant military events that saw the army of the Axis Italy-Germany, led by the German General Rommel who was also known as the Desert Fox, face the English forces. Subsequently it has become a renowned tourist and sea destination for the Egyptians and, since 2005, also for the Italians, thanks above all to the opening of three holiday resorts, among which the Villaggio Bravo run by Alpitourworld in the nearby bay of Almaza, which means “pearl” in Arabic.

To visit

The Military Museum, Cleopatra’s beach, the Museum and the Italian, German and Allied Forces’ shrines at El Alamein, the oasis of Siwa.

Curiosities

The Ptolemaic and Byzantine name of Marsa Matrhou was Paraitonion while the ancient Romans called it Paraetonium. As in all Arab Countries, the weekly holiday at Marsa Matrhou is Friday.