The exciting and chaotic city of Cairo is the capital of Egypt and known worldwide for its close proximity to the three famous Great Pyramids and the stunning Sphinx. Nicknamed the ‘City of a Thousand Minarets’ for its profusion of domes and minarets, Cairo is an amalgam of cultures as it stands at the crossroads of the mystic eastern, and the modern western worlds, and is the gateway to the intriguing African continent. It is a busy and bustling city, filled with noisy traffic-jams, overcrowded with animated people and home to picturesque medieval quarters with narrow streets, numerous mosques, churches, fortresses and oriental bazaars. It is one of the world’s great cities and a major tourist destination attracting thousands of people wishing to experience the culture and explore the 5,000 year old early civilizations of ancient Egypt.
Cairo is located on the eastern bank of the River Nile, at the point where the river leaves its restricted path through the desert and spreads over the fertile plains of the delta region. Standing roughly 170 kilometres south of the Mediterranean Sea, the city has been made famous by being the location of the over 4,000 year old, monumental Great Pyramids, the incomparable Sphinx and the associated causeways and temples of this huge necropolis. Overlooking Cairo from a rocky plateau in the suburb of Giza, the pyramids are located just a few kilometres south-west of the city. For some visitors to Cairo this may probably be all that is of interest, however, if time permits take a look at the attractions of Old Cairo which itself tells an interesting story. Any trip to Egypt should begin with a visit to the comprehensive Museum of Egyptian Antiquities.
The rich cultural heritage of Cairo can be easily appreciated through three historic districts. The first district is known as ‘Old Cairo’, which is the oldest area of town and was originally established by the Persians, later becoming a Roman settlement and finally in the 4th century becoming a Coptic Christian stronghold. ‘Old Islamic Cairo’, which was established in the 7th century by the Muslims of the Byzantine Empire, and the ‘Citadel’ which was constructed in the 10th century by the Fatimid Caliphate of Tunisia. Today these three districts have been surrounded by many other suburbs which have developed as the city has continual expanded, especially by the recent addition of the newer areas which stand on the banks of the River Nile. The city of Cairo provides a vast range of sights and attractions which help visitors unravel the often surprising and fascinating history of this mysterious city. These attractions range from the unusual Birqash Camel Markets to the excitement of the traditional Sufi dancers and Whirling Dervishes which can be seen at the Wakalat Al Ghuriya, and from the unique Gayer-Anderson Museum to the rather surprising Rail Museum which forms part of the Misr Railway Station.
Standing to the south of modern ‘Central Cairo’ can be found historic ‘Old Cairo’, the location of the original settlement of the city which was built by Persians and known as Babylon. This site is easily located, as during the 2nd century the Romans built the Babylon Fortress here, which during the 4th century became the heart of Coptic Cairo. Today visitors can see not only the ruins of the Roman fortress, that are the oldest structures in the city, but many old churches as Coptic Cairo was the stronghold of Christianity in Egypt. Some of the churches include the Hanging Church, which was built above a gatehouse of the Babylon Fortress and the Church of St George which stands within the grounds of the Monastery of St George. Within the enclosure of the Babylon Fortress it is possible to see six Coptic churches and the Coptic Museum, which that traces the history of Christianity in Egypt. Adjacent to the Church of St George can be found the Ben Ezra Synagogue, which is supposed to have been built on the site where Moses was found. It is the oldest synagogue in Egypt and is well worth a visit.
During the 7th century Cairo was conquered by the Muslim forces who established the town of Fustat, which became the first capital of Egypt and is today known as ‘Old Islamic Cairo’. This historic Islamic centre of the city is located to the east of ‘Central Cairo’ and is noted for its important mosques and typical Arabian architecture. ‘Old Islamic Cairo’ contains the Mosque of Amr Ibn al-As, which is the first mosque to be built in Cairo, and the Mosque of Ibn Tulan, which is the oldest and largest, original mosque, in the city. Cairo also boasts the oldest university in the world which is centered around the Mosque of Al-Azhar that dates back to 975 A.D., which itself placed Cairo as the world leader of Islamic education and culture which lasted throughout medieval times. Located within close proximity to the Mosque of Al-Azhar can be found the famous bazaar of the Khan el-Khalili which is full of oriental atmosphere and congested with human traffic. Formed from a labyrinth of twisting alleyways and narrow roads, the bazaar is an exciting and popular attraction of Cairo. The Khan, as it is fondly called, is usually jammed packed with people and contains literally hundreds of colourful open-fronted shops and craftsmen’s workshops, cafes, restaurants and local culture, and is a true reminder of historic Cairo.
Towering above the city and located south-east of ‘Central Cairo’ can be found the ‘Citadel’ which is surrounded by its medieval fortified walls that once encircled the whole of ‘Old Islamic Cairo’, and thereby created one homogenous city. Here, during the 12th century, the fortifications of Cairo were built by Saladin, the first Sultan of Egypt, to protect the royal city from the threat of invasion by the Crusaders. Today the Citadel, which also offers fantastic views over Cairo, is a popular destination for visitors and contains many attractions. These include of course the medieval fortifications of Saladin, the towering minarets and the Mosque of Mohamed Ali, the Al-Gawhara Palace, the Mosque of Suleyman Pasha, the Mosque of al-Nasir Muhammad, the Carriage Museum, the National Military Museum, the Police Museum and the historic Well of Joseph. Below the Citadel can be found two interesting attractions, the Madrasa of Sultan Hassan and the Mosque of Al Rifai, if you have some time and energy they deserve a visit. If you would like to see the medieval fortifications of the city more closely, visit the Bab Zuweila, which was one of the Citadel’s main gates. From here, it is also possible to explore the Al-Muizz Street, which is one of the oldest streets in Cairo and is full of medieval architecture. The street extends for approximately one kilometre and contains along its length the Mosque of Al-Hakim, the Mosque of Al-Aqmar, the historic Qalawun complex, the spice and antiques markets, and several mansions and palaces. Cairo is one of the world’s oldest cities and has been recognised internationally by its listing as a U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Site.
Cairo is the largest city in Egypt with a population of almost seven million residents, and with the addition of the population of its outer suburbs, which total an estimated 10 million, is the 11th largest urban area in the world. The city is easily accessible through its international airport, easily seen via its metro or by its numerous taxi services, and home to numerous hotels, modern banking and shopping facilities. Due to its size, the city suffers from overcrowding, traffic congestion and pollution, but these do not distract from the excitement from being in such an important location.
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