EGYPT CAIRO

CAIRO’S ANCIENT PAST

Take a magical history tour of Cairo to discover some of its ancient glories. First stop must be the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, regarded as the symbols of Cairo around the world. See them by day, and then return at night for the spectacular Sound and Light Show. Allow at least half a day to visit the venerable Egyptian Museum, which holds some of ancient Egypt’s greatest artefacts. Tutankhamun’s treasures take pride of place but there is much else from the time of the pharaohs to wonder at, including the Mummy Room.

OLD CAIRO

Discover Cairo’s Coptic history with a visit to the Coptic Museum, set in a garden in the Roman ear Babylon Fort, several walls of which still survive. Its ornate rooms are decorated with carved screens and painted ceilings and its displays show Coptic art, carvings, textiles and manuscripts from the city’s 700 year Christian period. The 3^rd or 4^th century El-Muallaqa Church is Cairo’s oldest Christian Church and is known as the “ Hanging Church” as it is built over a Roman gate. There are several Coptic Churches in this part of Cairo, the oldest one of the city.

ISLAMIC CAIRO

Dominating the Cairo Skyline, the massive Citadel fortress was originally built by Saladin in the 12^th century and looks out across the city’s Islamic Quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Step inside to see its mosque, Jewel Palace and museums.

Stroll the labyrinthine streets and alleys of the fascinating Khan El Khalili Bazaar, a lively market where you an haggle for souvenirs or traditional local crafts and people watch from a coffee house. Al-Azhar Mosque, with its graceful minarets and crenelated walls. See it at its best lit up at night.

DAY TRIP TP SAQQRA

A day trip to Saqqra, 30 km south of Cairo, is worthwhile for anyone interested in Egypt’s past. The necropolis for Egypt’s ancient capital, Memphis, it was where the first pharaohs were buried. It is best known for its Step Pyramid, Egypt’s oldest pyramid which dates from 3^rd Dynasty and was built by Imhotep. Saqqara contains another 16 pyramids, in varying degrees of preservation. It is also noted for the burial chamber Pyramid Texts in the pyramid of 5^th Dynasty pharaoh, Unas and for the well preserved scenes decorating the walls of the Old Kingdom Tombs.