Basic Facts about Algiers
Algiers is the capital city of Algeria in North Africa. Algiers is located on a bay of the Mediterranean Sea and is an important port. Algiers was first settled over 1000 years ago and has now grown to a large city with a metropolitan population of over 3 million. While downtown Algiers looks modern, the capital is struggling to keep up with rapid growth and standards of living for most of its population is very poor. Algiers has also been marred by violence in the past decade. A civil war which started in 1991 has destroyed much of the country. In recent times things have quietened down yet two bombs exploded in the capital in December 2007. The bombings were linked to al-Qaeda.
Algiers is known locally as El-Djazaïr and the residents speak Berber, Arabic and French.
Claim to Fame
Algiers is the backdrop to one of my favorite movies, Battle for Algiers (1965). It's a riveting movie documenting the battle for independence in Algeria (from France) during the 1950's.
Travel to Algiers
Algiers is not a tourist hotspot and the US State Department warns against travel to certain parts of the country. In Algiers, most of the interesting sights are in the old part of the city known as the Casbah or Medina. The travelers that do make it to Algiers are impressed with the very friendly and hospitable people. The old French buildings, the promenade along the seafront and the food also get good ratings.