The city of Cairo is famed as the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world. It’s also famed as one of the most interesting destinations in the world. Magic and mystery form Egypt’s past and it’s present is full of amazing things as well.
Islamic building styles predominate, resulting in Cairo being known as the ‘City of a Thousand Minarets’. The ancient capitals of some nations can be seen in the parts of Old Cairo and the attractions of the Great Sphinx and pyramids draw many tourists to the sites every year. One other nickname is the “Triumphant City” and that is one that Egyptians revel in while celebrating the oldest film and music industries in the Arab world.
In addition to the population of over six and a half million people within the city, there are at least ten million people on the outside of the city proper area, this makes Cairo the eleventh largest urban area in all of the world. Most travelers come here by air and are amazed by the activity of Cairo, and the shopping is definitely among the best anywhere around in the terms of variety and workmanship.
The most famous marketplace is the Khan el-Khalili souk, which has remained much the same since the 14th century. Gold, silver, leather, glass, rugs, ceramics, perfumes and even camels are some of the items available if you have the backyard for them.
The history of Cairo is one of conquest and occupation by various armies, from the Persians, Romans and Greeks to the Islamic Arabs. The French and British have been the latest to occupy Cairo lasting until the early 1950’s. The influence of the different occupations has led to a diverse city that has much to offer to the world as it continues to keep growing and changing. This makes Cairo absolutely on the list of interesting destinations to visit.
Not all of the attractions are the outdoor ones consisting of tombs and pyramids. Cairo has many other sites to see. One of the most attractive is the Cairo Opera house, which was built to replace the older opera house that burned in 1971. In addition to the Islamic mosques, monuments and other buildings of note, there is the Cairo Geniza, an accumulation of nearly a quarter of a million Jewish manuscripts that were from the Ben Ezra synagogue in old Cairo. They range from 870 to 1880AD.
The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities has the largest collection of antiques, with over one hundred thirty thousand on permanent display. Built in 1891, it was moved from Boulak to the Giza Palace in the Tahrir square. There are seven large sections, each specializing in a different theme or type of collection, many arranged in chronological order. The first section houses Tutankhamen’s treasures with one hundred and seven halls. The other sections house the different dynasties and eras of Egyptian history, with the last two sections devoted to coins, scarabs and writings of that time. There is a special place for the eleven kings and queens in this awesome display also.
If you’re into birds and outdoors things, the areas surrounding Cairo are something you’re not going to want to miss. Nile River crocodiles and camels, the birds and other wildlife that are viewable online in Egypt are things that you should spend some time seeing when you visit Egypt as well.
Cairo is one of the cities that is a must see if you are traveling in the area and wish to see the amazing pyramids, artifacts and structures that have lasted for thousands of years. These amazing sites and sounds, the cuisine and the people are something that you have to see in person to enjoy. Egypt, and particularly Cairo, one of the worlds most interesting destinations, continue to be studied, filmed and written about today by many different artists who try and unlock their mysteries. Unlock the mysteries of Egypt yourself with a trip to Cairo.
