Photo by Veronica Merlo, 06-09-2019

“Medina cosmopolitiya” (“a cosmopolitan city”) has traditionally been the defining expression associated with Alexandria of Egypt. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Alexandria has distinguished itself as a place of constant interaction where people from different cultures have transited, settled and coexisted over centuries. As a result, Alexandria carries a rich cosmopolitan past that can be seen today in a variety of forms. From the mixed identities of its inhabitants to the architecture and multilingual signs filling the streets of the city, a cosmopolitan atmosphere animates this place.

On Friday, September 6, TEDx San Stefano organized a full-day event dedicated to this topic under the slogan “Cosmopolitan”. Hosted by the Jesuit Cultural Center, the series of speeches delivered throughout the day represented a unique opportunity to discuss a theme that is central to the city but is at risk of oblivion. In fact, the current decrease in foreign presence and the insufficient care of Alexandrian historical heritage are progressively endangering the preservation of Alexandrian ancient cosmopolitan identity.