Marina, Egypt

Marina, Egypt

Marina's lake in Summer

Marina

Location in Egypt

Coordinates: 30°49′N 29°3′ECoordinates: 30°49′N 29°3′E

Country  Egypt

Governorate Alexandria

Time zone EST (UTC+2)

 - Summer (DST) +3 (UTC)

Marina, also Marina El Alamein , ancient Leukaspis or Antiphrae, is a tourist village located on the northern coast of Egypt, with a 11 km long beach. It is situated about 300 km away from Cairo, in the El Alamein area. Marina Village is often recognized by Egyptians as an area which caters to the elite of Egypt.

History

Leukaspis was a large port town, with a population around 15,000. The center of the town featured a basilica and a town hall that was converted into a Christian church. It was probably an important trading center between Egypt and Libya, and appears to have been a major center for Cretian imports. The settlement was destroyed in 365, when an earthquake off the coast of Crete created a tsunami. The town was not rebuilt, partially due to the crumbling state of the Roman Empire. Leukaspis was lost until 1986, when a group of engineers who were building roads in Marina revealed ancient houses and tombs. 200 acres (81 ha) of surrounding land was designated an archeological area, and excavations began in the 1990s. Prior to the site's discovery, the port area of the settlement was destroyed to make a man-made lagoon for a resort.

The Egyptian government plans to open Leukaspis as an open-air museum in mid-September 2010. It is expected to bolster the economy of Marina, attracting tourists year-round. Officials also hope that it will increase tourism to the battlefield in nearby El-Alamein, the site of the First and Second Battle of El Alamein. Th Egyptian government is also working to convert nearby Taposiris Magna, the suspected burial place of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, into a museum.

Tourism

The village is a gated community only accessible to those who live inside. Spanning almost 15 miles, this beach resort is split into eight different sections named Marina 1-7. Limestone villas and chalets and beautiful greenery are what characterize this exclusive part of the Middle East. In the summer of 2005, Porto Marina, one of the hottest hotel/mall destinations in the Middle East was opened in the center of Marina Village. Porto Marina is characterized by its Venetian canals and exclusive boutiques, and it has an impressive view over a lake.

There are rumors that the Egyptian government will be building an international airport near Marina due in 2010.

Historical overlay

The resort was the site of a bustling Greco-Roman port two thousand years ago.

The area was ruined during that period by a tsunami that resulted from an earthquake that hit Crete to the northwest.