Algiers

Algiers is the capital and largest city of Algeria, located on the country's northern Mediterranean coast. The city stretches across hills overlooking the sea, giving its urban landscape a varied relief. Its position has long made it an important point of contact between North Africa and the Mediterranean world. The modern city developed around the historic settlement of Algiers, known in Arabic as Al-Jaza'ir. Its best-known historic district is the Casbah, a dense old town built on a steep hillside above the port.

It contains traditional houses, mosques, palaces, markets and remains of the old citadel. The Casbah reflects several periods of the city's history, particularly the Ottoman era, while its urban layout closely follows the uneven terrain. UNESCO added the Casbah of Algiers to the World Heritage List in 1992 because of its historical and urban significance. The protected area covers about 54.7 hectares and remains a living residential district.

Algiers has a Mediterranean climate, with generally mild and wetter winters and hot, relatively dry summers. Rainfall is concentrated mainly during the cooler months, while the Mediterranean helps moderate temperatures along the coast. As Algeria's political capital, Algiers hosts the country's main state institutions, diplomatic missions and national cultural organizations. It is also an important centre for trade, transport, education and services.

Its port has played a major role in the city's development and connects it with other Mediterranean regions and international destinations. The urban area extends far beyond the historic centre, covering surrounding hills and much of the coastal zone. Algiers therefore combines modern neighbourhoods with historic districts, whose buildings and street patterns reflect different periods of urban development. The city provides a clear example of how relief, history and economic activity can shape the growth of a major capital.