Cairo (or Al Qahirah, Misr), Egypt’s capital city, is the meeting place of Africa and Arabia, Europe and Asia. Cairo has a checkered history covering the period between the pharonic era to modern day Egypt. It was called On in antiquity when the pyramids were built around 2,500 BC, then lost its preeminence to Luxor (during the Middle-New Kingdome periods) and Alexandria (Greek period), and came into its own only after the takeover by the Arabs. As such, Cairo has distinct influences of the various rulers of Egypt, and can be divided into:

Pharonic Cairo: pyramids, sphinx, Memphis, Sakkara, Antiquities museum

Coptic Cairo: churches, Coptic museum

Islamic Cairo: mosques, tombs of caliphs, museum of Islamic art, gates of Cairo

Modern Cairo: many museums, old houses, papyrus institute

Due to paucity of time, we could only do the pharonic Cairo, but the mosques and churches we passed by were very beautiful from the outside, and may be worth a look from inside…… Its worth spending around two days in Cairo to be able to see all its treasures at leisure.

© Vixabs Vacations Unlimited

May 01 2003