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Cairo -
Egypt Travel Guide http://bit.ly/1gcTosP
Egyptian Museum of
Antiquities
===========================
With more than
120,
000 artefacts spanning
Egyptian history from the earliest dynasties, the museum represents the world's largest collection of its kind. Take around three to four hours to see the highlights.
Don't miss the
Tutankhamun Galleries, displaying the famous gold and gem-inlaid funerary mask and 1,700 other treasures found in the boy king's tomb.
The Royal Mummy
Room houses the corpses of 11 of Egypt's pharaohs including
Seti I and his son
Ramses II.
Opening Times: Daily 0900-1900 except Fri 0900-1700.
Admission Fees:
General admission is E£60.
Disabled
Access: No
Unesco:
No
Address:
Midan Tahrir,
Cairo, Egypt
Pyramids of Giza
=====================
One of the
Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza are Egypt's prime tourist attraction. The oldest, the
Great Pyramid of Cheops, was completed in around 2560BC, and is Egypt's largest at 136m (448t) high. Nearby are three smaller pyramids built for the queens, and beyond are the pyramids of
Chephren, son of Cheops, and Mycerinus.
The Sphinx guards the entire site, which is thought to be some 2,600 years older than the pyramids themselves.
Much more recently unearthed, the
Solar Boat Museum houses a superbly preserved wooden boat found near the
Great Pyramid. Hugely popular, daily sound and light shows in different languages take place after sunset
Opening Times: Daily 0700-1700 (dependent on season).
Admission Fees: General admission is E£60.
Disabled Access: No
Unesco:
Yes
Address:
Pyramid Road, 18km (11 miles) southwest of central Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Bab Zuwayla
=============
The southern gate of Bab Zuwayla is all that remains of the
Fatimid city of el-Qahira.
Executions took place here in
Mamluk times but in the
19th century it acquired a happier reputation when a local saint, Mitwalli, performed miracles near the gate. To this day, people seeking healing nail a lock of hair or piece of clothing to the gate in hopes of receiving divine aid.
Rising above the gate are the minarets of the
Mosque of el-Muayyad, which offer some of the finest panoramic views in Cairo from the top. The mosque contains a shady courtyard and the mausoleum of the
Sultan el-Muayyad and his son, who began building the mosque in 1415. Sharia
Darb el-Ahmar,
Islamic Cairo
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: No
Unesco: No
Address: Sharia Darb el-Ahmar, Islamic Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Bayn al-Qasryn
============
This charming, traffic-free street is a highlight of Islamic Cairo, especially at night when the monuments are spot-lit. In medieval times, Bayn al-Qasryn was Cairo's main public square; today it is lined with three Mamluk palace complexes.
The finest, the Madrassa (theological school) and
Mausoleum of
Qalaun, is also the earliest, were completed in 1279. The mausoleum is stunningly decorated with an elaborate stucco arch bearing stars and floral motifs, ornate coffered ceilings and stained glass. The
14th century Mausoleum of an-Nasir
Mohammed and the Madrassa and Khanqah (monastery) of
Sultan Barquq also boast fine architecture and decoration. You will doubtless be offered the chance to visit the minaret for fabulous views; donation appreciated.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
Unesco: Yes
Address: Sharia el-Muizz, Islamic Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Bayt el-Kritliya (Gayer-Anderson
House)
=================================
The Gayer-Anderson House was the home of an
English doctor to the royal family, who lived here from 1935-42. He restored two
16th-century houses, joined them together and filled them with exquisite decoration, furniture and oriental objects. The mashrabiyya-screened women's gallery overlooks the magnificent reception room with its central fountain, arguably the finest in Cairo. On a different note, scenes from
James Bond's
The Spy who
Loved Me were filmed here.
Opening Times: Daily 09001-700.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
Unesco: No
Address: 4 Midan
Ahmed Ibn Tulun, Islamic Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
City of the Dead
=================
It might seem squeamish to visit the City of the Dead, but it's a fascinating sight. Dozens of 'tomb squatters' have made it their home and other Cairenes come to visit and picnic at the graves of their relatives, an ancient tradition.
This huge necropolis is divided into the northern and southern cemetery on either side of the
Citadel and contains some outstanding
Islamic architecture. The finest monuments are in the northern cemetery.
The Mosque of
Qaitbey, a Mamluk ruler, has an intricately carved dome, the finest in the
Muslim world, while the splendidly decorated interior surrounds a peaceful courtyard.
Visitors are advised to stick to the main streets in daylight hours, and not to visit alone.
Admission Fees: No (except for the Mosque of Qaitbey).
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Islamic Cairo, Egypt
- published: 14 Oct 2013
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