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Cairo,
“Al Qahira", is Egypt's capital and usually
visited on overday or overnight quick trip
itineraries from Alexandria, Port Said or
Suez. The largest city in Africa,
Cairo is home to 17 million people. |
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Although today’s
modern bazaars are but a pale reflection of
former worldwide trade, the city remains a
crossroads between Africa and Arabia, as
well as a meeting ground for Europe and
Asia, thereby playing a crucial role in
East-West relations. Today the city throbs
with ever increasing energy and has a
booming western-style nightlife with a wide
variety of restaurants and bars, as well as
more traditional entertainment such as local
coffeehouses and Arabic nightclubs with
belly dancers.
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MAJOR SIGHTS IN CAIRO |
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The
Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx are
Egypt's most visited monuments, ranking
among the world's greatest tourist
attractions. The Great Pyramid of Cheops is
the only surviving “Wonder of the Ancient
World”. For centuries the great pyramids
have intrigued and puzzled visitors, and
even in the 20th century it is difficult to
stand before them and not be overwhelmed. |
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For 4½ millennia, surviving the rise and
fall of great dynasties, and outlasting
Egypt's many conquerors, they have shared
the desert plateau of Giza with other
monuments: smaller attendant pyramids, some
for royal wives; rows of mastabas, the tombs
of 4th and 5th dynasty princes and nobles;
and the imposing figure of the enigmatic
sphinx.
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Egyptian Museum of
Antiquities |
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Although located in the heart of Cairo, this
turn-of-the century museum has a pleasantly
calm atmosphere once inside its formal
gardens. To enter the museum is to take a
tour through over 7,000 years of Egyptian
history, starting from the Archaic Pre
Dynastic Period to the Old, Middle and New
Kingdoms. |
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The museum houses the world’s
most important collection of Egyptian
antiquities from 2700 BC to the 6th century
AD. There are thousands of statues, jewels
and artifacts from nearly every period of
ancient Egypt. Admire the amazing treasures
of the young king, Tutankhamen, including
his famous mask made out of solid gold and
in a perfect state of preservation. There
are 12 rooms filled with treasures from King
Tut’s tomb, which was discovered in 1922
virtually untouched. |
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The Citadel & Mohamed Ali
Mosque |
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The
Citadel dominates Cairo from it’s high
vantage point on the Mokattam Hills and was
the heart of the city beginning in 1176 for
more than 200 years. The Citadel was erected
by Salah El Din, the legendary Saladin who
conquered the Crusaders in Palestine. This
fort was later occupied by Napoleon and the
reigning Royal Family. |
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The complex contains
other later-built elements and buildings
such as palaces and mosques. The last great
phase of the Citadel was accomplished by
Sultan Mohammed Aly, as it was his permanent
residence. There you will see the highlight
of the visit: the great Mosque of Mohammed
Ali. It was built imitating the Blue Mosque
of Istanbul, with two high minarets and
numerous domes. |
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The Fascinating Khan El-Khalili
Bazaar |
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Is
reputed to be the largest bazaar in the
Middle East. Originally founded as a
watering stop for caravanserai in the 14th
century, the bazaar has now grown to vast
proportions. |
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As you wander through the
labyrinth of narrow streets you will find
workshops and stalls selling all manner of
things from woodwork, glassware and leather
goods to perfumes, fabrics and Pharaonic
curiosities. Remember to bargain hard! |
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