subject: Spending Your Holiday In Cairo [print this page] Cairo, the Egyptian capital, is officially known as al-Qahirah, and is a very vibrant city. The city brings together the ancient and modern worlds beautifully. The mention of Cairo and Egypt mostly evokes thoughts of pyramids. While these are certainly great attractions in Cairo, there are many other things that make the city special.
Cairo is both one of the oldest and largest cities in the world. There are many landmarks that will help you learn the ancient culture on one hand and get close to modern developments on the other.
At the start of your Cairo tour, you will notice the special appeal that the nearby Nile River brings to the city. One of the special things you can enjoy here is taking a cruise in a wooden sailboat, known as a felucca. You will have some spectacular views this way, including enjoying a soothing sunset. In addition, you will receive special entertainment, such as belly dancing, and eat great cuisine right in the boat.
As we have briefly seen, Cairo is closely associated with pyramids that are a must-see during your visit. The Pyramids at Giza are the only remaining destination of the original Seven Wonders of the World. There are a number of things that make these pyramids special. The centuries it took to build them shows the great workmanship and dedication that the builders had. Their great accuracy also shows that the mathematical brilliance of the designers is undisputed. And their sizes are simply awe-inspiring.
Although the Saqqara Pyramids are relatively smaller and of less grandeur than the Pyramids at Giza, they are actually older. Saqqara used to be the capital of the ancient kingdom, and this is where kings from the first dynasty were buried. Among recent discoveries are tombs of a prince and an ancient queen.
You may think that people would avoid a place named the City of the Dead, yet this is one of the most popular destinations in Cairo. It derives its name from the fact that it is the site of an important cemetery, which is situated beneath the Citadel. Apart from the ancient tombstones, you will find a special hostel for the homeless that Sultan Quaitbey erected in 1481.
The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities is one place where you will find many artifacts from ancient Egypt. The museum houses over 120,000 items that come from different periods in the country's history, including the earliest dynasties up to the Roman era. Plan at least three hours to go through the largest collection of its kind in the world. If you have more time, it is even better to schedule short visits for several days. You will find different things here, ranging from special artifacts to corpses of early pharaohs.
There are many other places you can visit during your vacation, including:
- Coptic Museum
- el-Muallaqa Church
- Bayn al-Qasryn
- Bab Zuwayla
- Gayer-Anderson House
- Citadel (el-Qal'a)
- Islamic Art Museum
by: Archie Blazer
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