Egypt has a very rich History. There are a few people who does not know anything about Egypt history that have roots going back to thousands of years before Christ, and no need to speak of what history Egypt has as it is always studied in schools and in universities. Also there are innumerable websites on the topic.
By Gawhar al Sakely the leader of the Fatimide army who came to Egypt to invade Cairo was built in the 8th Century, and they decided to follow the order of the Fatimide Khalif Al Moez's to build a great Capital. They built the city around the ancient Foustat that was built by the Moslem Leader Amr Ibn Elas in 641 AD as the Islamic Capital to Egypt. Now Gawhar enlarged and reconstructed the New city; while building it they were still thinking what to call it, and they did not find a suitable name. Suddenly the planet Mars appeared and that planet is called "Al Kahir" in Arabic, which means the Conqueror, so they decided to call the new capital after this planet. To this day it is called in Arabic Al Kahira, just the modern name as Cairo is a mistaken or moven name from the real Arabic origin that happened with the passing of years and years.
Cairo also witnessed the construction of Al Azhar mosque with the same Fatimide invasion. This was to be the main mosque and university for the new capital, which is up until now considered the main Islamic university and Islamic center all over the Muslims world. You can visit the mosque in Husein area in Cairo.
Cairo endured a lot of empires, rulers, kings, invasions and many others. Since it had been affected with all of this, that is why everywhere you go and everywhere you look you see mixed iconography of art, tradition styles, and many others.
In Cairo you can find Pharaonic relics, starting from Heliopolis, the ancient city named OUN which was the first university known in the human history, upon which is now built a modern city (relatively modern) by Baron Impan. He was a Belgian engineer who re-constructed the city and returned it to its glory and name as Heliopolis or City of the Sun, he have over there in the heart of Heliopolis a very beautiful palace built on Indian style, it is a must to see even if that it will be from outside as it is under restoration these days.
Also among the Pharaonic relics is the Giza area with its Pyramids and Sphinx, as Giza is part of the Great Cairo which is the Capital of Egypt nowadays.
Also in Cairo there is the area of Memphis, and also Sakkara with the first pyramid on history - the Step Pyramid of King Zoser.
If we look for ancient Christian relics and churches then we must head to the area known nowadays as Old Cairo (in Arabic named Masr el Kadima) where you can see and smell the ancient history and the visit of the Holy Family. If you go to this spot and stay in it for a time, you must visit the Hanging church (Al Moalaka), the church of Saint Serguis (called Abu Serga by locals) and the Jewish Synagogue. Then if you still have time there, a nice place to see is the Saint Barbara church which is near the Jewish Synagogue. Don't forget to buy for your beloved ones back home a small gift from the Moalaka church, they are very cheap - maybe 1 or 2 pound for a cross or something like that, but it is very nice and beautiful made.
We can also find in Cairo very nice Islamic monuments. When you go to Hussein area and surroundings, it is a very rich area with ancient constructions, like Mosques, Sabils (water supply for passengers for free), Meddressahs (Schools), Khan (Motels), Houses (Beit) and many many others. Examples of places to visit in that area are the Al Azhar Mosque, Sabil Kalawoon, wekalet el Ghoury, Madrassah of Sultan Kalawoon, and seket el Badistan (the ancient bazaar of Khalili). While you're there do not forget to have a cofee or tea or even to smoke a water pipe (shisha) at Al Fishawy, the most ancient coffee shop in the whole area. It is very clean and has reasonable prices. Also do not forget to see Beit el Sehimy, and walk to Bab el Nasr or Bab el Fotouh to see the ancient doors of Cairo that were made to fortify the capital. On your way there will you will pass many ancient mosques and buildings.
Also near the Hussein area, you can go to Ibn Touloun mosque to see Gayer Anderson house, called also Beit el Kreitleyah. It is a MUST visit. There you can ask for a guide when you are in the ticket office to show you around and then you can give him a tip for that, he is usually one of the people who work there and know the history in details and he will show you all over and around the house in a very nice presentation. If you give him about 20 EGYPTIAN pounds more or less he will be happy with it.
Cairo was called the City of 1000 minarettes, because of the huge amount of mosques built there. Today it is probably at least 10 or 20 times more.
Very nice and interesting is to hear or listen to is the Pray call during the day, when all mosques all over the city are making it and it look slike a harmony of sound that really makes the atmosphere of the city.
Cairo has not only Historical ancient places. It still has modern life and interesting places to see and many things to do. Some examples are the opera house, the felucca ride on the Nile River, watching the capital from the Cairo Tower, dining in a floating restaurant or even a regular restaurant near by the shores of the river, and enjoying a Folocloric dance show in Wekalet El Ghory each Saturday and Tuesday. Visit the Heliopolis area especially City Star Mall where you can enjoy shopping for anything you may like. Have a walk by the Cornish street (along the Nile River) and eat salted chickpea or in Arabic "termes," take a horse carriage ride along the Cornish street which you can find easily around the Cairo Tower area and Zamalek district, take a motor boat ride to explore the islands of Cairo in the River Nile, dine in the revolving restaurant in Grand Hyatt hotel, go up to the Mokattam Hills to sit on the Cornish area and have nice drink and enjoy the view of the city expanding all around with with no end. Especially see this at night with all the wonderful lights. These are only a few of the many other things you can do in Cairo.
You can see Cairo as a glance in couple of days, and you can explore it more for a longer period of time. It is recommended to stay at least a week.
By Gawhar al Sakely the leader of the Fatimide army who came to Egypt to invade Cairo was built in the 8th Century, and they decided to follow the order of the Fatimide Khalif Al Moez's to build a great Capital. They built the city around the ancient Foustat that was built by the Moslem Leader Amr Ibn Elas in 641 AD as the Islamic Capital to Egypt. Now Gawhar enlarged and reconstructed the New city; while building it they were still thinking what to call it, and they did not find a suitable name. Suddenly the planet Mars appeared and that planet is called "Al Kahir" in Arabic, which means the Conqueror, so they decided to call the new capital after this planet. To this day it is called in Arabic Al Kahira, just the modern name as Cairo is a mistaken or moven name from the real Arabic origin that happened with the passing of years and years.
Cairo also witnessed the construction of Al Azhar mosque with the same Fatimide invasion. This was to be the main mosque and university for the new capital, which is up until now considered the main Islamic university and Islamic center all over the Muslims world. You can visit the mosque in Husein area in Cairo.
Cairo endured a lot of empires, rulers, kings, invasions and many others. Since it had been affected with all of this, that is why everywhere you go and everywhere you look you see mixed iconography of art, tradition styles, and many others.
In Cairo you can find Pharaonic relics, starting from Heliopolis, the ancient city named OUN which was the first university known in the human history, upon which is now built a modern city (relatively modern) by Baron Impan. He was a Belgian engineer who re-constructed the city and returned it to its glory and name as Heliopolis or City of the Sun, he have over there in the heart of Heliopolis a very beautiful palace built on Indian style, it is a must to see even if that it will be from outside as it is under restoration these days.
Also among the Pharaonic relics is the Giza area with its Pyramids and Sphinx, as Giza is part of the Great Cairo which is the Capital of Egypt nowadays.
Also in Cairo there is the area of Memphis, and also Sakkara with the first pyramid on history - the Step Pyramid of King Zoser.
If we look for ancient Christian relics and churches then we must head to the area known nowadays as Old Cairo (in Arabic named Masr el Kadima) where you can see and smell the ancient history and the visit of the Holy Family. If you go to this spot and stay in it for a time, you must visit the Hanging church (Al Moalaka), the church of Saint Serguis (called Abu Serga by locals) and the Jewish Synagogue. Then if you still have time there, a nice place to see is the Saint Barbara church which is near the Jewish Synagogue. Don't forget to buy for your beloved ones back home a small gift from the Moalaka church, they are very cheap - maybe 1 or 2 pound for a cross or something like that, but it is very nice and beautiful made.
We can also find in Cairo very nice Islamic monuments. When you go to Hussein area and surroundings, it is a very rich area with ancient constructions, like Mosques, Sabils (water supply for passengers for free), Meddressahs (Schools), Khan (Motels), Houses (Beit) and many many others. Examples of places to visit in that area are the Al Azhar Mosque, Sabil Kalawoon, wekalet el Ghoury, Madrassah of Sultan Kalawoon, and seket el Badistan (the ancient bazaar of Khalili). While you're there do not forget to have a cofee or tea or even to smoke a water pipe (shisha) at Al Fishawy, the most ancient coffee shop in the whole area. It is very clean and has reasonable prices. Also do not forget to see Beit el Sehimy, and walk to Bab el Nasr or Bab el Fotouh to see the ancient doors of Cairo that were made to fortify the capital. On your way there will you will pass many ancient mosques and buildings.
Also near the Hussein area, you can go to Ibn Touloun mosque to see Gayer Anderson house, called also Beit el Kreitleyah. It is a MUST visit. There you can ask for a guide when you are in the ticket office to show you around and then you can give him a tip for that, he is usually one of the people who work there and know the history in details and he will show you all over and around the house in a very nice presentation. If you give him about 20 EGYPTIAN pounds more or less he will be happy with it.
Cairo was called the City of 1000 minarettes, because of the huge amount of mosques built there. Today it is probably at least 10 or 20 times more.
Very nice and interesting is to hear or listen to is the Pray call during the day, when all mosques all over the city are making it and it look slike a harmony of sound that really makes the atmosphere of the city.
Cairo has not only Historical ancient places. It still has modern life and interesting places to see and many things to do. Some examples are the opera house, the felucca ride on the Nile River, watching the capital from the Cairo Tower, dining in a floating restaurant or even a regular restaurant near by the shores of the river, and enjoying a Folocloric dance show in Wekalet El Ghory each Saturday and Tuesday. Visit the Heliopolis area especially City Star Mall where you can enjoy shopping for anything you may like. Have a walk by the Cornish street (along the Nile River) and eat salted chickpea or in Arabic "termes," take a horse carriage ride along the Cornish street which you can find easily around the Cairo Tower area and Zamalek district, take a motor boat ride to explore the islands of Cairo in the River Nile, dine in the revolving restaurant in Grand Hyatt hotel, go up to the Mokattam Hills to sit on the Cornish area and have nice drink and enjoy the view of the city expanding all around with with no end. Especially see this at night with all the wonderful lights. These are only a few of the many other things you can do in Cairo.
You can see Cairo as a glance in couple of days, and you can explore it more for a longer period of time. It is recommended to stay at least a week.
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