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"Algiers the White," as it is fondly called due to the glistening whiteness of its buildings in contrast to the deep blue sea of the Mediterranean, is the capital of Algeria, noted for its winding alleyways, cashbah quarters, medersas, mosques and cathedrals which together give a Maghreb feel to it.
Once a walled city during the heydays of the French occupation; Algiers was then surrounded by colossal fortifications, parapets, and ditches with the forts of Bab Azoun at its south and Bab-el Qued to its north. However, at the turn of the 20th century all the fortifications were demolished to give way to the towering commercial complexes and skyscrapers.
Strangely enough, Algiers is still called "La Blanche" on the strength of some major facelifts done in some of its buildings. Visitors can still gape at the whitewashed buildings, particularly the onion-domed cathedral and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kashbah, which stands in one of the promontories of Algiers' coastal side overlooking the port and the Mediterranean Sea. Those interested in history and culture might want to visit the Kasbah which houses the remains of the ruined citadel, an old mosque and an Ottoman-style palace which gives a glimpse on how advanced the architecture and engineering had been during those days and how artistic the people who inhibited the region at that time were.
Apart from the Kashbah there are other notable landmarks found in the city like the grand mansion of Dar Hassan Pacha, the Palais des Rais and the colonial French mosques of Djemaa el-Djedid, Djemaa el-Kebir, Djemaa Ketchoua and Djemma Ali Bitchine.
Also worth visiting are the several museums tucked around Algiers which recount the history of the city from the past to the preset. These include the 18th century Bardo Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography, which served as the residence of the Tunisian prince deported to Algiers during the colonial times. It has been converted to a museum that displays fossils, pottery and stones. There are also the Musée des Beaux Arts, the Musée National du Moudjahid and the Museum of Popular Arts & Traditions, the last housing an intriguing collection of traditional Algerian arts and crafts.
Algiers Landmarks:
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