Guide to Cairo-its history, Suburbs, monuments, markets and sightseeing

Old Cairo

Coptic Cairo

Islamic Cairo

Modern Cairo

Egypt was the first state to establish a system of administration and a capital with administrative and religious centers. King Narmer, the unifier of upper and lower Egypt 3200 B.C., had chosen Memphis (22 km south from modern Cairo) to be a capital of Egypt. Since that time and the capital city of Egypt has changed throughout the history from Ahnasia, Thebes ( Luxor ) to Alexandria. But when the Islam was introduced to Egypt, Amer Ebn Alas founded Alfustat in 641 A.D. and had chosen to be a capital of Egypt. Gohar Al Sikkily founded Cairo in 969 A.D. beside Alfustat. Cairo now is the capital city of Egypt, with 20 million inhabitants, and average population density is 50.000 inhabitants/ km².

Larger Cairo is made up by original Cairo, the city of Giza, the islands Gezira and Ar-Ruda, and regions in Qalubiyya, north of Cairo proper. The main centre of Cairo is just across the bridges from Giza and Gezira. The most popular places to live is on Gezira and in the less densely populated Giza. Cairo was established in 969 by the Fatimids when they conquered Egypt, but the area has been populated for at least 6000 years, and has even served as the capital of ancient Egypt (Heliopolis, Al Fustat, Al Katayia, Al Askar). Today Cairo covers almost 300 km². Industrial areas are stopping further growth of the city in many directions.

Cairo has more than 1000 antique mosques, where the most famous are the mosques of Ibn Tulun, Kalaun, hossein, saida zeinab, and sultan Hassan, but the most dominating is the marble mosque of Muhammad Ali in the citadel overlooking the city. Cairo has the world's first university, al-Azhar, founded in 970, which serves as the most important centre of Islamic learning for the whole Sunni world. Another university is the American University, established in 1919. Cairo has many excellent museums. There are also numerous embassies and administrative offices. The economical foundations for Cairo is a diverse industry and governmental activity. Cairo is totally dominating in Egyptian economical life.

Old Cairo just opposite of Rhoda Island and below it's southern tip. The area is known to the Egyptians as Masr al-Qadima and stretches down to the sub-area often called Coptic Cairo. Again, appropriate dress covering the body including shoulders and legs is required for entering both Coptic and Islamic monuments. There are only five churches remaining, but these are certainly a must see when visiting Cairo, along with the earliest Mosque ever built in Egypt. In addition, after the fall of Jerusalem in about 70 AD, the area also saw an influx of that religion into the area, where the oldest synagogue is also located. Most of Pharaonic Egypt is a relic of one of the Worlds first and grandest religions, including the great Pyramids outside Cairo.

Yet if the modern world can be said to have four major religions consisting of Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, then three of those are represented by some of their most ancient relics in this section of Old Cairo. For simplicity, we will head south along Corniche el-Nile until we pass the southern point of Roda Island. Just before we arrive at the Masr al-Qadimah River Bus landing, we will pass the Mosque of Abdin Bey. At the river bus, take the first street available east and away from the Nile. This should lead us to Mar Girgis street. Make a left heading north and look for the first entrance to the right (east.) This will lead us into at least part of the area now sometimes called by the government the 'Multi-religious Compound' and the area within Old Cairo known as Coptic Cairo.

This main entrance is through perhaps one of the two oldest structures in Cairo, the rounded towers of the western gate of the Roman fortress of Babylon built in 98 AD by Emperor Trajan. The Southern gate is the other oldest structure. This will lead us into at least part of the area now sometimes called by the government the 'Multi-religious Compound' and the area within Old Cairo known as Coptic Cairo. This main entrance is through perhaps one of the two oldest structures in Cairo, the rounded towers of the western gate of the Roman fortress of Babylon built in 98 AD by Emperor Trajan. The Southern gate is the other oldest structure.