Curation

As part of the 15th Journées du Patrimoine Alexandrin (Alexandria Heritage Days), St. Catherine’s Cathedral in Alexandria was transformed into a temporary museum for the first time in its history. The exhibition explored nearly 175 years of the cathedral’s architectural, religious, and urban heritage through a rich collection of archival documents, historical photographs, maps, drawings, and architectural studies.

Developed from more than six years of research by architect and artist Mahmoud Saïd, the project traced the history and evolution of one of Alexandria’s most significant historic landmarks. Installed within the active cathedral, the exhibition featured ten freestanding panels and a series of archival display cases, thoughtfully integrated into the sacred space through a scenographic approach combining lighting, sound, and contemporary exhibition design.

The program also included a presentation on Alexandria’s Maltese community, organized in collaboration with the Embassy of Malta and the Apostolic Vicariate of Alexandria. This complementary event highlighted the longstanding cultural and historical ties between Malta and the city of Alexandria.

By opening the cathedral as a temporary museum, the exhibition offered visitors a unique opportunity to engage with its rich history while demonstrating how historic religious spaces can be reimagined as dynamic platforms for cultural heritage, public engagement, and collective memory.