Cairo is among the world’s greatest megacities that are characterized by its crazy historical finery. Looking beyond the modern hubbub of Cairo you will discover an interesting history that spans for centuries. When you want to have a full vigour of the Egyptian street life, then Cairo is the destination for you to tour. Cairo boasts the most beautiful Islamic architecture in the world and is known as a city of thousand minarets & the Magnificent Pyramids of Giza thus making It a destination that most travelers desire. Below are the THINGS TO DO IN CAIRO.
The Great Pyramid of Giza Complex
Historical tombs bearing the names of the kings who were buried in them, formed an integral part of the ancient Egyptian heritage There are more than a hundred ancient pyramids in Egypt, But the most famous and largest of them are the Pyramids of Giza, due to their fame, size and the greatness of their history.
The Giza Pyramids were built on highlands, to avoid the Nile River waters reaching them when it floods, and near it to facilitate the process of transporting limestone. A solid rocky area of the desert plateau was also chosen for construction to provide support and protect it from collapse or cracking. The Pyramids of Giza: The largest of them was built during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu between 2551 and 2528 BC, while the others were built during the reign of Khafre, who ruled between 2520 and 2494 BC, and Menkaure, who ruled between 2490 and 2472 BC.
Great Sphinx
If you want to know what is great about the Great Sphinx, then you have to explore it by yourself. Front of the Giza Pyramids is standing the Sphinx to secure the Giza necropolis and greet the sun rise daily. The literal meaning of the Great Sphinx is “the terrifying one” this is a mythical creature that has a body of a lion and head of a human with a sheer height that awestruck visitors whenever they tour this place. The wear and tear of Sphinx make it miss the nose and beard mysteriously. The face of the Sphinx is belied to represent the Pharaoh Khafre.
The Grand Egyptian Museum
For you to gain extensive knowledge of ancient Egypt on the Pyramids, then the Grand Egyptian Museum (abbreviated to GEM) is the place for you to tour. It’s built front the Giza Pyramids. It will be the world’s largest museum in the world to collect the archaeological pieces, treasures. It has an architectural design that resembles the traditional chamfered triangle.
The halls of the Grand Egyptian Museum include artifacts from the pre-dynastic era to the Greco-Roman era, according to a museum display scenario at the highest level, and it narrates three main topics about ancient Egyptian civilization: kingship, society, and beliefs.
The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir
The foundation stone of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir was laid in the 19th century and was inaugurated by Khedive Abbas Hilmi II on November 15, 1902. It is classified as the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East, and its long corridor contains unique artifacts dating back to several eras. The French architect Marcel Durgon designed the architectural form of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, which is distinguished by its Greco-Roman architecture, following an international competition held in 1895 AD, to be an icon of museums around the world and a tourist destination for tourists from around the world. The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir includes the most famous artifacts throughout its history, the most prominent of which was the mask of King Tutankhamun, which was transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum, in addition to artifacts from the funerary group of Yuya and Tuya and the Narmer Palette, in addition to statues of the kings and queens of Egypt in ancient times.
The Old Mosque of Cairo
Cairo is deemed to be a city of Minarets, and this is attributed to the overwhelming number of mosques. The gorgeous horizon of minarets viewed from any high roof creates an incredible reputation about Cairo, thus making it a destination that has been admired by most of the travelers.
• Muhammad Ali Mosque
The Muhammad Ali Mosque was built between 1830 and 1848, and it was named after Ali, who was ref=guarded as the founder of Modern Egypt. The Mosque was constructed in the Ottoman Style with a central dome that has 21 meters in diameter using limestone and alabaster.
• The Mosque of Al-Azhar
This is an active place for not only religious purposes but also for political demonstrations. The Mosques three Principal minarets which include the carved minarets, the double finial minaret of Qansah Al-Ghuri and Katkhuda Qaybay minarets makes it the best place to tour when you want to explore Cairo.
Coptic Cairo
Christianity was pivotal in shaping the history of Egypt, as evident in the Coptic Cairo with the Overhanging Churches. Coptic Cairo is regarded as the oldest part of Cairo that dates back during the times of Moses and Pharaohs of the bible. This is a settlements area that is dated back to the 6th century BC that is evidenced by the fort on the Nile built by the Persians. Coptic Cairo besets Babylon Fortress, Coptic Museum, St Barbara Church, highly decorated milometer and the Hanging Church. The Coptic Museum has a resource of facts about the Coptic, early Christian period in Egypt, while the Hanging Church is good example of the Coptic architectures.
Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Gallery
The art gallery concerned the artist and Egyptian architect Ramses Wissa Wassef . It’s tipped to be the best place for you to explore all the wonders of the Egyptian tapestry. The place demonstrates the traditional art of weaving which is passed on to the younger generations to keep this remarkable Culture alive. Just south of Giza Pyramids by a few miles you will find the gallery in the village of EL Haraniya
