|
|
| Sightseeing
- Cairo and Giza
|
Even
though Cairo and Giza are officially two distinct governorates,
the fact that they are both very large, branched, and adhere to
one another across the Nile helped in the evolution of Greater
Cairo.
Cairo proudly stands where East meets West, combining the mystery
of the one with the sophistication of the other. It is a city
of contrasts; a place where donkey carts jockey with latest-model
Mercedes Benz pass along the crowded streets, and where a thousand
minarets adorn the skyline alongside a sea of skyscrapers.
It is the most populated city on the African continent and the
heart of the Arab world with a population of 16,000,000. With
its "thousand minarets", picturesque oriental bazaars, plush Nile-side
hotels, apartment blocks, and gracious residential areas, Cairo,
is also a rare blend of a long past throbbing with life, and a
vibrant, modern present.
The Giza Pyramids:
How could we start with something other than the Great Giza Pyramids?
The Great Pyramid dated at 2,650 BC, King Cheops' pyramid is one
of the Seven Wonders of the World. Getting inside the Pyramids
is quite an experience - claustrophobic to some - yet many do
get in just to brag that they have. Young visitors are fond of
Solar Boat Museum lying next to the Pyramids.
The Giza Plateau also incorporates the mortuary Pyramids of Khafre
and Menkaure that along with the Sphinx, form the most entertaining
way of learning a little of Egypt's ancient history.
Do go way, way around the back of the pyramids, approaching them
from the southwest to view an unbelievably majestic view of the
three Pyramids and Sphinx. Sunset and moonlight are the best times
to go.
Many Pyramid fans prefer the smaller, older, and more isolated
step-Pyramids of Saqqara and Abu Sir. Saqqara is the frequently
visited one.
The Egyptian Museum:
Literally hundreds of elegant, exquisitely decorated mummy cases
stand as silent sentries over the thousands of visitors who daily
pay homage to Egypt's treasures. It embraces the sarcophagi and
spellbinding treasures from Tutankhamun's (King Tut) tomb.
The Islamic Art Museum:
It includes arts from all over the Islamic world. Illuminated
Manuscripts, tapestries (Mashrabeyia), remnants from mosques and
early Islamic period ceramics are also on display.
The Citadel of Salah al-Din:
One can enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the Citadel fortress,
built between 1,176 and 1,182 AD. The Alabaster Mosque is contained
within the Citadel's complex.
The Coptic Museum:
Here, you are walking on the holy grounds of Old Cairo, the area
which was once called the Roman fortress of Babylon, and after
Al-Fustat, the early Arab City. The Coptic museum views the world's
finest collection of Coptic art and antiques, including illuminated
manuscripts, icons and textiles.
The Hanging Church (al-Mu'allaqa):
A structure from the 4th century, the Hanging Church was constructed
as a dedication to the Virgin Mary at the southern Gate of the
Fortress of Babylon. Housed within is a 14th-century wall painting
of the Nativity.
The Mosque of Ibn Tulun:
Cairo's oldest and best-preserved mosque, still offering services
and has continuously done so since 879 AD when it was built. Next-door
is the Gayer Anderson House, formerly the Ottoman-style residence
of the eccentric British major. Now it presents exhibitions of
his private collection of Islamic art.
Al-Azhar Mosque:
The first Fatimid mosque in the world, this structure is also
the site of the oldest Islamic University, which was founded in
970 AD.
The Egyptian Opera House:
The first Egyptian Opera House was built in Cairo in 1869 in the
wake of Egypt's celebrations of inaugurating the Suez Canal. The
new Opera House was inaugurated in October 1988 in Cairo.
In the middle of the numerous cultural center buildings at Al-Gezirah
by the Nile side in Cairo stands the elegant and modern Cairo
Opera House. It is a fantastically suitable place for the new
Opera House to be set up standing against the Nile waters and
charming green area. This site sits between Kasr El-Nil Bridge
and Midan Al-Tahrir in the center of Cairo.
Bab Zuwayla:
This site has a ghastly past; it was a former spot for public
execution. This gate, which is a foundation of the city's fortifications,
dates back from 1,092 AD.
Nile Feluccas:
You may also go sailing on the traditional Nile sailing boats,
called Feluccas.
|
|
