Cairo is one of the most densely populated cities in the world with fourteen to fifteen million residents, and has terrible traffic jams. It is the largest city in Africa. No photography is allowed in the Egpytian Museum, but it is well worth the visit anyway; you could spend months in there without seeing everything. The Nile flows 4000 miles from equatorial Africa to the Mediterranean. The Corniche el-Nil has many popular floating restaurants.
Islamic Cairo
The Mosque of Sultan Hassan was completed in 1362 and is one of Cairo's best examples of early Mamluk architecture.
The Citadel
This fortress was built by Saladin in the 12th century C.E. to repel the Crusaders. The dominant building inside is the Mohammed Ali Mosque, built in the 19th century in the style of Istanbul. The original Mohammed Ali is buried in a corner of the mosque.
Old Cairo (Misr al-Qadima) and Coptic Cairo
Coptic cairo is the oldest part of the city. it lies inside a 3rd century Roman fortress. The subterranean entrance to the Coptic compound is off Sharia Meri Gerges. The Hanging Church rests on two round Roman gate towers. This used to be on the banks of the Nile before the river shifted course westward several centuries ago. Ben Ezra Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in Egypt. Orignally a church, it was built in the 8th century. No photography is allowed inside the synagogue.
Ali Pasha Palace
Street scenes
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Last modified 24 February 2011