With such a rich history, was expecting something more ... but was disappointed. This is located in a crowded area of Alexandria. You need to go through some really narrow streets to reach it! We reached around 11.30 am and the place was packed, full of tourists. The entrance (and exit) of the Catacombs is narrow and you need to walk down 2-3 flights of stairs. Below, because of the tourists, it was packed and claustrophobic. The site has limited parking. It boasts a free toilet, which is filthy.

I visited the Catacombs of Kom el Shaqafa in Alexandria as part of a two week tour of Egypt. You enter by a spiral staircase that descends to burial vaults and ornately carved reliefs in a maze of tunnels. It was really fascinating to see how ancient cultures commemorated the funerals and burials of their loved ones, especially in going to the extent of digging these elaborate tunnels with their carvings and statues. It was one of the highlights of my visit to Alexandria.

The catacombs run pretty deep under the city of Alexandria, and turns out it was discovered by a donkey falling down. It featured several tombs and also some relics. The stairs to the bottom weren't bad. They seem pretty sturdy and the wood was new-ish. As for the catacombs themselves, I noticed that some sections look new. Turns out they were reinforced due to stability issues. So that is something to watch out for.

We covered this place towards the end of our day tour. It is a unique site which was discovered when a donkey fell into a hole. Our guide explained to us details about the funeral process of the dead and how the bodies went down through the three floors. There are some Greco Roman carvings as well as Egyptian carvings at the end depicting the steps at the last stage. There was an arrangement for the relatives to visit the site regularly later too, and sit and dine. The floors of the catacomb are dark and steps are steep and circular. Can be a tiring experience for elders.

The catacombs are very cool because of the way they blend Greek, Roman and Ancient Egyptian influences. We visited when we had already been in Egypt for over two weeks and had seen many of the major sites - yet, the catacombs still had something new to offer. They are deep in a local neighbourhood and we really struggled to find an Uber when we needed to leave. Luckily a couple who were there with a guide offered us a lift! Apparently it’s not a good idea for tourists to walk in the surrounding area.