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Cairo Travel Guide,
Egypt:
The capital of Egypt and the
largest city in Africa
The name means "the
victorious city". It is located on both banks of the River Nile near the
head of the river's delta in northern Egypt and has been settled for
more than 6000 years, serving as the capital of numerous Egyptian
civilizations. Cairo is known locally as "Misr", the Arabic name for
Egypt.
Greater Cairo is
spread across Four of Egypt's administrative governorates: Cairo, Giza,
Kaliobia and Helwan
City Spirit marked by
the traditions and influences of the East and the West, the ancient and
the modern. However, the city also reflects Egypt's growing poverty, and
it struggles to cope with problems caused by massive population growth,
urban sprawl, and a deteriorating infrastructure.
Cairo contains many
cultural institutions, business establishments, governmental offices,
universities, and hotels, which together create a dense pattern of
constant activity.
The centre of downtown
Cairo is Tahrir Square, located on the east bank. A hub of tourist
activity, the vast and open square contains numerous attractions,
including the Egyptian Museum, the Arab League headquarters, and the
modern Umar Makram Mosque. Extending from north to south along the east
bank of the Nile is the Corniche, Cairo's main thoroughfare. Located
nearby is the narrow strip of land known as Garden City, walking and
shopping experience in Cairo city centre commercial area is an
unforgettable one, one of the city's newer residential areas. In the
centre of the city is the river island of Zamalek (also called Jezerah,
meaning "the Island"), which contains the upscale residential and
commercial neighborhood also known as Zamalek, the Cairo Opera House
(founded in 1869), and the Cairo Tower (1961). Three bridges link the
island with both banks of the river. The island of Al-Rodah, located to
the south, is linked to the mainland by two additional bridges, while
another bridge to the north carries road and rail traffic across the
Nile.the Ramses Railway Station and the bus terminal are located near
downtown Cairo , The city is connected by train service to other major
cities.
Outside the city's
central area on the east bank, spanning from the northeast to the
southeast, are the neighborhoods of Islamic Cairo. These neighborhoods
are known for their narrow streets, crowded markets (bazaars), and
hundreds of Mosques, many dating back to the medieval period. South of
the Islamic district is Old Cairo, where some of the city's oldest
architectural monuments can be found. Old Cairo is the home of Cairo's
Coptic Christian community, and the site of the Coptic Museum plus a
number of Coptic churches.
The irrigation of
Cairo's desert periphery has allowed for the development of suburbs,
such as Heliopolis, located to the northeast. Other modern suburbs are
interspersed with recently created migrant neighborhoods that
accommodate the city's growing population. Industrial areas further
crowd the city, restricting its growth. Cairo International Airport
situated approximately 24 km (about 15 m) northeast of the city;.
Traffic congestion is
a growing problem in Cairo, but it is the only city in the Middle East
and Africa that has a subway. A subway system opened in the city in
1987.for the first time carrying about 2 million passengers everyday.
Lately a second line has been opened, this linked the old line with the
western superb in the west bank (Giza), The third line is still under
construction which will connect Cairo airport to the city centre and
finish in the busy suburb of Imbaba.
Population:
In 2008 Cairo was estimated
to have a population of 20 million.The city is an important centre of
the Islamic faith, and Cairenes are predominantly Muslims; however, the
city is also home to a sizable Coptic community, which traces its
origins to the Christians who populated Cairo before the arrival of
Islam. Cairo's population swells daily as workers flow into the city
from the surrounding area
Education And Culture:
The most famous educational
institution in Cairo is the Al-Azhar University, the oldest in the
Islamic world. The institution has grown up around the Al-Azhar Mosque,
the oldest Mosque in Cairo. The Fatimid founded both the university and
Mosque in 970. Al-Azhar University is an authoritative voice throughout
the Islamic world, and its positions on important issues are influential
in Egypt and the Arab world. Other institutions of higher education
include Cairo University (Founded in1908) and Ain Shams University
(1950), which together enrols more than 100,000 students; and the
American University in Cairo, founded in 1919, where the children of
Egypt's elite mingle with students and faculty from abroad. Egyptian
history is displayed and preserved in the city's numerous Museum
collections. The Egyptian Museum (Founded in 1902) contains hundreds of
thousands of artefacts, including more than 1700 pieces from the
collection of Tutankhamen. The Museum of Islamic Arts (1881) contains a
vast collection relating to early Islamic civilization, and the Coptic
Museum (1910) traces the history of the Coptic community in Egypt. Other
Cairo Museums maintain collections relating to more modern themes; these
range from the El-Gawhara Palace Museum, built in 1811 in the Ottoman
style, to the Mahmoud Khalil Museum, founded in 1963, which contains
works by Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Peter Paul Rubens, and other
European and Egyptian painters of renown.
What to See?
The Pyramids of Egypt,
which served as tombs for the Ancient Pharaohs , and the statue of the
Sphinx, which dates from 2565 BC and is probably the country's most
famous monument, are located just west of Cairo in the suburb of Giza.
Despite the desert background usually depicted in photographs, the
Pyramids are extremely close to Cairo and are likely to be affected by
the city's continued expansion.
Cairo contains
numerous religious and governmental structures. The ornate architecture
of the Citadel, in eastern Cairo, enhances the city's skyline. Begun by
Saladin in 1176 and modified and expanded by later sultans, the Citadel
is famous for its Mosques, Museums, and fort; within the complex the
Mohammad Ali Mosque (1830) is particularly notable, with its storied
domes and twin minarets. The Coptic Church known as Al Mu'allaqa,
located in Old Cairo, is believed to be the earliest known site of
Christian worship in Egypt; the church was built in the 3rd century,
though it has been almost entirely replaced through successive
restorations. Old Cairo also contains the Ben Ezra synagogue, the
central house of worship for Cairo's small Jewish population, and the
distinctive and imposing gates of Cairo. Once part of a wall that
encircled the city, these three gates are all that remain of the
original eight. Among Cairo's modern buildings are the Cairo Tower,
which stands at a height of 187 m (about 614 ft) and commands a view of
the Pyramids and the Citadel.
Around Cairo
The Delta to the
North: is lush with vegetation and its many canals work their way
through the land. The Delta fans out like a palm tree trying to reach
the Mediterranean. Vast fields of cotton, maize and rice decorate the
flat landscape and the buffalo graze, plow or turn wheels for the
grinding of the grain. During the winter months it is wise to bring a
raincoat because of the high clouds that blow in from the Mediterranean.
Along the coast itself, a sweater may be needed in the evenings
Upper Egypt Central
Part to the south: where the connection between the rich culture Upper
Egypt and Cairo, Consist of number of governorates depending in
Agriculture, it is called the Nile Valley as there are desert from both
sides and the river with it is narrow green area among, along the valley
there are a lot of famous Christian Coptic Monasteries specially which
know that the holly family stayed at during their visit to Egypt.
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