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Cairo
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Cairo is located on
the edge of the Nile River, near the spot were the river splits
into two branches, at the delta. Cairo is Africa’s biggest city.
It has a population of 13 million and each day 5 million people
travel to Cairo to work. Cairo is over-populated. Housing
demands and transport services are under great strain. Cairo
wasn’t designed to house so many millions of people. Cairo has
also used up lots of good farming land, which could of been used
to grow more crops, to feed its population, but instead
factories and high-rise buildings have been built upon it. A
great number of magnificent carved masonry domes, mausoleums,
and mosques have been preserved in Cairo, principally in the old
medieval areas. |
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Cairo reveals its history in a
succession of sights and quarters. It’s the capital of Egypt ,
bursting with movement and life
Cairo is an agglomeration of
half a dozen cities , the earliest of which came into existence 2500
years after ancient Memphis the first capital of Pharonic Egypt ,
was founded BC 3100 across the river and to the south during the
climax of the old kingdom vast necropolises developed along the
desert's edge as the pharaohs erected ever greater funerary
monuments from the first step pyramid at Saqqara to the
unsurpassable pyramids of Giza.
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It took centuries of Persian ,
Greek and Roman rule to effect both clues by which time a new
fortified town had developed on the opposite bank Babylon – in –
Egypt was the beginning of the tale of cities that culminated in
modern Cairo. |
Touristy
Attractions in Cairo
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The Museum of Egyptian
Antiquities
founded in 1858 by Auguste
Mariette ,
it has long since outgrown its present building which now scarcely
provides warehouse space for the pharonic artifacts , allowing one
minute for each it would take about nine months to view its 136,000
exhibits although most guided tours last two hours , the museum
deserves at least six hours.
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The hanging church
Built directly above the water gate
the ceiling is ribbed like an upturned boat or ark , is separated
from its side aisles by sixteen pillars.
The Ben Ezra Synagogue
Down the road , is a unique relic of
Cairo's ancient Jewish community. It resembles the Basilical church
of the kind that existed here between. The fourth and ninth
centuries , sold to the jews in order to pay taxes raised from the
Copts to finance Ibn Tulun's mosque.
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The one of the highlights of old Cairo
, its peerless collection of Coptic artifacts is enhanced by the
beautiful carved ceilings, beams and stained glass domes.
Inside its wings, Founded
in 1908 ,
it was intended to save Christian antiques from the ravages of
neglect and foreign collectors.
Daily winter 8:00 AM - 5:00
PM , summer 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
The citadel is the natural focus of a visit to Islamic Cairo .
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Khan el Khalili and al Azhar
Khan el khalili bazaar and the mosque
of al Azhar form the commercial and religious heart of Islamic Cairo
and the starting point for several walking tours.
Khan el khalili is a quarter pulses of
business. Every thing from spices to silk is sold in its bazaars:
jewelers and souvenir antique shops mostly congregate along the
lanes.
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Al Azhar Mosque
Founded in 970 it’s the world's oldest
university. It provided students from all over the Muslim world
with free board and education.
The Museum of Islamic
Art
Midway through exploring Islamic Cairo
, since the historic architecture lends meaning to the museum's
artifacts which in turn enhances your appreciation of the old city.
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Cairo Tower
Built between 1957-1962 with soviet help,
it combines Pharonic and socialist realist motifs within a
latticework shaft of poured concrete that blossoms into a lotus
final.
The Cairo opera House
Was built in 1988 belatedly replacing
the old building on Opera Square which burned down in 1971.
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The Pyramids
Most visitors are content to see the
great pyramids of Giza and part of the sprawling necropolis of
Sakkara , both easily accessible from Cairo
On the seven wonders of the ancient
world , only the pyramids of Giza have withstood the ravages of time
, forty centuries look upon you , the Giza pyramids embody antiquity
and mystery.
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