Located, at the great Gizah plateau. A marvelous view for the 3 pyramids and the sphinx, a civilization that dates back to more than 7000 years ago, and still the great pyramid is considered one of the 7 wonders of the world. Gizah is the second large city after Cairo, about half an hour drive from Cairo. When you visit that site you'll enjoy an unforgettable view for an old civilization, the story lies behind these Ancient tombs are unbelievable, hope you'd be accompanied by a good guide or trusted history book. You can also pay a visit to the inside of the pyramids to see the king's & queen's burial chambers.
Sphinx, legend is another tale worth to be heard. Whilst, you are in this great area don't forget to pay a visit to the step pyramid known as the pyramid of Sakkara, and ask your guide to show you the Hb-sed court and tell you its story.
At night time pyramids sound and light show is to be held in a nice laser show.
In the heart of Cairo, at one of the most famous squares in it, El-Tahrir Square, from anywhere inside Cairo or Gizah, just hire a taxi and he'll drive you there right away.
A collection of about 120,000 objects including; mummies, masterpieces, games and lot of status and possessions for Ancient Egyptian kings and queens.
Tutankhamon collection contains splendid pieces of arts due to finding his tomb intact.
Khan El-Khalili:
Not only a market, but also, a place full historical sites & houses. Once known as the "Turkish Bazaar" during the ottoman period, originally built by king "Jarkas El-Khalili", was the largest market place in that time. Till today, this area of khan El-khalili together with El-mosky St., forms one of the most important market places for both the international and the local shoppers.
As they say, it got it all, starting from the unique gold & silver stores, carpet stores, precious and semi precious stones stores, handmade clothes, & items, oriental spices, essences stores, and much more, it's a place that really worth your visit.
Not only that, but also, the scattered cafés and restaurants allow you a time to rest from all the shopping and all the surroundings site seeing you'll be passing by. One of the most famous coffee shops there is called; "El-Fishawy" café, famous with its tea with mint, shishah and other oriental drinks like; hibiscus.
El-fishawy café is used to famous by the great writers used to sit there, amongst which is the nobel prize winner "Naguib Mahfouz", it's know that that great writer used to sit at that coffee shop to write his novels. You won't believe the atmosphere there, really inspiring. Another famous coffee shop and restaurant at the same time, that server delicious oriental dishes is named after that great writer called " Naguib Mahfouz restaurant & coffee-shop". Also, never miss to try the delicious real oriental food like; fatir, kebab & kofta, at any of the specialized restaurants there.
Khan EL-Khalili is considered a unique tourist place, starting from the famous Azhar mosque , one of the most important mosques, an considered the oldest university in the world.
Parellel to El-Azhar street you'll also find, some of the old houses that date back to the Ottoman and Mamluk period, like that of " Zeinab Khatoun " house; which reflects both the Ottoman and the Mamluk style in its building. Other famous houses like; " Beit EL-Hawary " or El-Hawary house, " Beit El-Suhaimy " or Suhaimy house which is a great example for the Ottoman houses in Cairo.
That is in addition of the various mosques, old schools, and sabils; water fountains for people to drink from, like; Sabil Kuttab .
One of the oldest attractions in Cairo, located on part of El-Moqattam Hill. Known as Salah El-Din's Citadel or " Qualaet Salah El-Din" in Arabic. Salah el-din citadel, is one of the oldest medieval fortresses. Positioning a unique and strategic location with a full view for the city, cool breeze Salah el-din or Saladin; an Abbassid ruler fortified the area to protect the Crusaders attacks.
So the citadel served as both a fortress and a royal city.
Saladin used the modern techniques in fortress buildings at that time to construct that unique citadel. Several fortifications & reinforcements were made by Saladin's ancestors after his death. Saladin's citadel was the country's government seat at that time.
Salah El-din's citadel also, encloses the well preserved, marvelous Mohamed Ali Mosque , built in the Ottoman Baroque style that imitates a great mosque at Istanbul. South to the mosque located is the Jewel Palace, known as 'Kasr El-Jawhara' , also built in an Ottoman style.
During your trip you'll also, visit El-Hareem Palace, the Military Museum ; which is fun to visit as it contains a collection of weapons, costumes, and also some pictures for the most famous criminals in Egypt, it'll be both exciting and strange at the same time to hear the stories of "Raya & Sekina" 2 sisters used to kill women to get their gold & money, & how they finally got caught.
The Carriage Museum, & Solyman Pasha Mosque; which was the first Ottoman style mosque built in Egypt.
In short, your trip to Salah El-din Citadel will be very interesting & full of information, too.
Egypt is always known as the cradle of civilizations. Therefore when you visit the area of Old Cairo or Masr El-Kadima, you'll notice the meaning of this sentence, starting your trip, from the Hanging Church or El-Moa'alaka, known as the hanging church cause it's built on top of the Roman Babylon Fortress.
The Hanging Church is the most famous church in Cairo, as well as the first Basilican style one. Early parts of the church dates back to the 3 rd or 4 th century, then it was restored again several times, the most important restorations were made by the Patriarch Abraham. Later on during the 11 th century the Hanging Church became the official residence of the Coptic Patriarchs of Alexandria.
Since it's a hanged church, it's only, reached by stairs, it's once known as the "staircase church" due to the 29 steps that leads to its entrance. The Church architecture and interior decoration is magnificent with all the geometrical designs of ebony inlaid with ivory. There are several beautiful icons hanged for the Christ, Virgin Mary, Saint John the Baptist, Saint peter, and other icons that are really worth to see.
Following your visit to the hanging church, you'll head towards the Coptic Museum , located behind the Babylon fortress and to the right of the Hanging church at Old Cairo (Masr El-Kadima). One of the most important Coptic sightseeing in Cairo. It contains a variety of monuments and art pieces that date back to different civilizations like; starting from the Ancient Egyptian civilization passing by the Greek, Roman, and finally the Islamic.
The museum is built using wooden ceiling, and it bares a collection of beautiful icons, Christina monuments, marble pillars, ornamented fountains with mosaic, in addition of many other treasures, can be found there.
Legends brings us the stories that the Holy family rested in the area where Abu Serga Church or St. Serguis & Bacchus Church is built nowadays.
St. Serguis church(Abu Serga) dates back to the 4 th Century, and is considered the oldest Christian Church in Cairo. Abu Serga church held a significant position during old times as it was the place where many patriarchs were elected.
Still considered to be a remarkable tourist attraction.
Monastery & Church of St.George known as Mari Guirguis Church , that notable image for St. George as a Roman soldier mounting a horse and spearing a dragon is such a familiar and beautiful image throughout the history.
St. George Church is a really magnificent church, you'll feel relaxed as soon as you enter it. The icons of St. Goerge can be found in the chapel, there is also, a separate room that bares the iron collar, & chain of Mari Guirguis.
You should get blessings from St. George chain, the nuns in charge there will place the chain around your neck and body as a sort of an exceptional kind of blessing. And don't forget lighting a candle before you leave and make a wish whatever your religion is.
Finally, at the end of your tour and before heading to Amr Ibn al'as Mosque mentioned below, pay a visit to Ben Ezra Synagogue , after visiting Abu Serga Church, at the end of that long aisle, you'll reach an old synagogue known as ben Ezra synagogue or temple. Believed it was once part of the church. The Basilica style temple contains a Jews library. A collection of documents were found at the temple, these documents were written in an Arabic Hebrew language that was only used by Jews during the middle Ages. The documents reflected the political, economical & social conditions for the Jews under the Arab rule.
Moreover, and more interesting was a number of rare manuscripts of the Old Testament were found, these manuscripts contained explanations of how Jews dealt with the Arabs. Ben Ezra temple as a whole is rather small but contains beautiful chapel and ornamentations of alabaster.
For those who love old buildings, and architecture lovers, you'll find a great collection of old buildings & mosques like; Al-Maridani mosque; that mosques dates back to the 14 th century when built by prince "Altunbugha al-maridiani".
Altunbugha al-maridiani mosque is located in an area called "Bab El-Wazir" translered as " The Governers Door/Gate", which was once a major street during the Mamluk's time.
Passing through the Fatimid period here is a survival example of the Fatimid architecture; El-Aqmar mosque; though its interior is almost the same but its minaret facade isn't. You'll still notice the fine art in its decoration and exterior façade which is still a piece of art.
Ahmed Ibn Tulun mosque;from the name we'll notice that it's build by Ahmed Ibn Tulun, the founder of the Tulunid period in Egypt. Ahmed Ibn Tulun born in Baghdad, and a son of a Turkish slave owned by Khalif El-Maamoun, but later appointed to be the governor of Egypt.
Ahmed Ibn Tulun mosque, the third largest mosque in the world, as well as the oldest mosque in Egypt, but still surviving in a fairly original status.
Several restorations and additions were made to the mosque to keep its look through all these years. Nowadays considered, one of the most important tourist attractions in Cairo, specially distinguished by its spiral minaret and unique decorative motives on its columns.
Introducing a new style of buildings is the "Complex of Sultan Qalaoun" located at El-Muizz street, in Cairo, built by Sultan El-Mansour Qalaoun introducing a Syrian style mosque, school, & mausoleum.
The complex of Sultan Qalaoun is considered the earliest example of Syrian style & typical Mameluke architecture at the same time. Famous by its fantastic and beautiful orientation of its mausoleum.
Mosque of Amr Ibn El'as;the first & oldest mosque ever built not only in Egypt but in all Africa . Constructed by the famous commander Amr Ibn al'as.
Amr Ibn el-as mosque is also known as, 'Taj el-Jawame3' or the 'crown of all mosques', and 'the Ancient mosque' or 'Al-Jame'a Al-ateeq'. Was the Islamic learning center before the Al-Azhar mosque.
Another worth to visit places, are the famous Refaai Mosque, Sultan Hassan Mosque, Mosque , Medressa & tomb of Taghri Bardi.
There are much more Islamic sights to visit.
That's just a hint about the most famous sightseeing areas in Cairo, nevertheless the other magnificent sightseeing that can be found at St. Katherine, Luxor, Aswan, and other destinations in Egypt, that contains
breathtaking monuments, tombs, temples, churches, and much more.
