Algiers

About Algiers

Seen from the sea, Algiers climbs from its bay in tiers of white buildings, which is why it has long been called Alger la Blanche, Algiers the White. Algeria's capital is a city of contrasts, where the steep alleys of the Ottoman Casbah sit above grand French colonial boulevards, and a modern mosque with the world's tallest minaret rises over the eastern shore.

The city began as a Phoenician trading post and grew under Romans, Berber dynasties and the Ottomans, who made it a powerful Mediterranean port. The Casbah, its labyrinth of houses, palaces and mosques, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. French rule from 1830 added arcaded streets, the neo-Moorish Grande Poste and the Jardin d'Essai, and the long struggle for independence is commemorated by the Martyrs' Memorial above the bay.

Visitors explore the Casbah with a local guide, look out from Notre-Dame d'Afrique, wander the botanical garden and browse the museums. Try chorba, couscous and fresh grilled sardines by the harbour.