Planning of Alexandria
Designed by the Greek architect Dinocrates, the city plan (see historical map) was not creative, yet it was practical. Like most ancient Greek cities, the plan consisted of orhtogonal streets, with the sea being the main landscaping element.
The main street, the "Canopic" (now Fouad Street) connected the Gate of the Moon to the West with the Gate of the Sun to the East. It then extended eastward, along a possibly ancient road, up to Canopus (now Abou Qir). Orhtogonal to the "Canopic", was the "Street of the Soma" (now Nebi Daniel Street). The intersection known as the Soma was the city center, and is believed to be Alexander's burial place.
The Heptastadion (seven stades long) dyke was built to connect the Island of Pharos with Alexandria. Initially, it was merely a narrow structure, but later silted and formed the land area now occupied by Mansheya neighborhood.
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