Once upon a time, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria was considered the cradle of civilization with a diverse culture, rich history and a strategic geographic location. However, Egypt's second largest city gradually lost its glory, which had all but vanished by the end of the 20th century. Throughout the past decade, Alexandria has been getting a facelift - slowly but surely, vigorous renovation projects aim to bring it back to the fore of world class destinations. In 2002, Bibliotheca Alexandrina was built to once again place the city as the region's center of learning, a status it had enjoyed with the Library of Alexandria - the largest of the ancient world. In July 2007, the Four Seasons Hotel at San Stefano opened its doors, changing the city's skyline and bringing back the glamour Alexandria was known for during the prime of the old San Stefano hotel. The 118-room hotel is part of Grand Plaza, a mixed-use complex that includes 945 residential flats, offices, a shopping mall and a marina. "Alexandria is the capital of memories and we are making it an international destination once again, said the hotel's General Manager Stephan Killinger. The hotel's owner, Talaat Mostafa, is originally Alexandrian, which explains why he is investing so much in turning Alexandria into a Mediterranean hotspot. "We spared no cost on building this hotel.far beyond the maximum, said Killinger. The crescent shaped towers can be seen on the horizon from almost anywhere in the city, and the commanding structure stands out because of its sheer seize and contemporary architectural style. The interior décor is classic, not what you would expect from the modern building. Renowned French architect Pierre-Yves Rochon is the man behind the design, and he has created some of the worlds' most recognized city hotels such as the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva, Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, Amstel InterContinental in Amsterdam and, most recently, Cairo's Sofitel El Gezirah. Similarly to Rochon's other hotels, San Stefano's design pays tribute to the art of living a la French style. Although it is located on the Corniche, it lacks a resort type feel, instead adhering to a Neo-Baroque style that exudes old school luxury. As you walk into the hotel, you feel like you've travelled back in time to the Napoleon era. With high ceilings and plush décor, the hotel could just as well be a renovated ancient palace. Using lots of gold and filled with antiques, the lobby lounge could have once been the living quarters of a royal family. The standard rooms boast a more relaxed design, steering away from the rich golds and choosing a more cheerful palette of yellow, blue and sometimes green. In a sea view room, you wake up to the sight of the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, which almost blends with the room itself. All the amenities you'd expect of a Four Seasons room are there: the spacious, comfortable bed, elegantly furnished balcony, internet access and a large Roman-style marble bathroom. If there is anything missing, it can be at your door in an instant, because if there is one thing you guarantee during a stay at the Four Seasons, its professional service. Several kinds of suites are available, and of course the presidential and royal suites are the more extravagant. The staff is made up of mostly Alexandrians without prior hotel experience. They were chosen because they had "the right smile and right attitude, said Killinger. The 600 were trained from scratch, with regular English language courses. The hotel has nine dining outlets, each offering a completely different cuisine. Kala serves up breakfast and lunch in a Greek style venue overlooking the sea through wide windows. The blue and white color theme from the wall paper to the plates is playful, making it feel a bit like a dollhouse. After a full breakfast of fresh fruits, waffles, cereal, omelettes, foul, sausages and/or feteer meshaltit with molasses, a cappuccino is in order. As you sip the fresh coffee from a blue and white teacup, it's easy to admire the sea as well as the marina currently under construction. Bulldozers and workers are toiling away on the seashore in front of the hotel, creating what will soon become one of Egypt's landmarks. The marina and beach area will have its own set of trendy venues, making it all the more attractive to travelers. Another popular place to lunch is Fresca, an Italian café located on the street in front of the Corniche. The brightly colored, ultra-modern design café serves paninis, pizza, pasta, salads and pastries. For gourmet dining, Byblos offers a tasty Lebanese bill of fare. The interior has a homey feel, but still opulent with a turquoise, brown and gold color scheme, crystal chandeliers hanging from high ceilings and plush oriental carpets. The food is just as rich, with oriental mezzas, soups and grills. Other outlets include Bleu, an outdoor restaurant open only during the summer; the pool bar and grill; a fancy south Italian seafood restaurant called Stefano; and a cozy bar with a fireplace. A luxury hotel would not be complete without a spa, and this one is no exception. The Daniela Steiner (which we know from Cairo's Four Seasons at the Nile Plaza) is a place to indulge. The two-floor spa offers all kinds of treatments and massages, with most of the staff from Bali. The café next to the pool currently serving healthy food has not been very popular, so it will be turned into a sushi bar. It's easy to see that the opening of the Four Seasons has already revitalized the once sleepy city, and with a rich history and culture, Alexandria is on its way to once again being the Pearl of the Mediterranean.
