Cairo Travel Guide

Cairo contains numerous religious and governmental structures. The ornate architecture of the Citadel, in eastern Cairo, enhances the city's skyline. Begun by Saladin in 1176 and modified and expanded by later sultans, the Citadel is famous for its mosques, museums, and fort. tTe Mohammad Ali Mosque (1830) is particularly notable within the complex, with its storied domes and twin minarets. The Coptic Church known as Al Mu'allaqa, located in Old Cairo, is believed to be the earliest known site of Christian worship in Egypt as well. The church was built in the 3rd century, although it has been almost entirely replaced through successive restorations.

The Pyramids of Egypt, which served as tombs for the Ancient Pharaohs, and the statue of the Sphinx, which dates from 2565 BC and is probably the country's most famous monument, are located just west of Cairo in the suburb of Giza. Despite the fact that most people picture these monuments as being far off into the desert, the Pyramids are actually extremely close to Cairo and are likely to be affected by the city's continued expansion.

Old Cairo also contains Ben Ezra synagogue, the central house of worship for Cairo's small Jewish population, and the distinctive and imposing gates of Cairo. Once part of a wall that encircled the city, these three gates are all that remain of the original eight. Among Cairo's modern buildings are the Cairo Tower, which stands at a height of 187 m (about 614 ft) and offers a stunning view of the Pyramids and the Citadel.