Stanley Bridge

A theatrical road bridge that curves over the bay at Stanley, in the eastern part of the corniche. The bridge has four decorative stone-faced piers topped with classical kiosks — a deliberate gesture to Alexandria's cosmopolitan past. The bay below is now the city's most-popular casual beach, with restaurants and cafes on both shores.

The bridge is best seen at sunset, when the kiosks catch the last light and the bay below fills with families. Walking across the pedestrian footway is part of the experience. The Stanley Beach below is one of the cleanest urban beaches in Alexandria, though crowded in summer. Several seafood and cafe-restaurants — most notably Greek Club and Fish Market Stanley — have outdoor terraces on the bay.

things to do sight architecture stanley
A story
Stanley Bridge, built between 1997 and 2001, is a recent addition to the corniche — but already one of the city's symbols. The bridge curves over the bay at Stanley in a long arc, supported by four ornate stone-clad piers topped with neoclassical kiosks. The intent was to evoke the historical European character of older Alexandrian architecture; opinions about whether it succeeds remain divided.

Other places in Things to Do