Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa

The catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa are a historical archaeological site located in Alexandria, Egypt, and are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages.

Its historical story is also significant: the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa (Arabic: مقابر كوم الشقافة, romanized: Maqābir Kūm al-Shuqāfah, lit. 'Mound of Shards') are a historical archaeological site located in Alexandria, Egypt, and are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Its historical story is also significant: the necropolis includes a series of Alexandrian tombs, statues and archaeological objects of the Pharaonic funerary cult with Hellenistic and early Imperial Roman influences. Its historical story is also significant: due to the time period, many of the features of the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa merge Roman, Greek and Egyptian cultural attributes; some statues are Egyptian in style, yet bear Roman clothes and hairstyles whilst other features share a similar style. Its historical story is also significant: the facility was then used as a burial chamber from the 2nd century to the 4th century, before being rediscovered in 1900 when a donkey accidentally fell into the access shaft.

Its character is shaped by the local landscape, transport & rentals setting and what visitors can responsibly access on the ground. Follow marked routes and respect private or protected ground.

Experiences depend on season, access and available guides. Sightseeing, photography and locally organised activities are typical starting points; confirm availability before travel.

For visitor planning, a circular staircase, which was often used to transport deceased bodies down the middle of it, leads down into the tombs that were tunneled into the bedrock during the age of the Antonine emperors (2nd century CE).