Cairo City: The capital of Egypt.

Cairo City’s Overview

For thousands of years, Cairo city has served as an infinite time capsule, a protector, and a hub for culture, art, and beauty. As Egypt’s capital, it is the largest metropolitan region in Africa, the Middle East, and the Arab world, and the world’s 15th largest metropolis. Cairo is in northern Egypt, covering approximately 528 square kilometers. It lies on both sides of the Nile River in the Nile delta, 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of the Gulf of Suez and Suez Canal, and 165 kilometers (100 miles) south of the Mediterranean Sea.

Cairo’s Historical Background

Cairo’s history began in 641 BC. That year, Amr ibn Al-as invaded Egypt and built Al-Fustat, the new Islamic capital. The city, built north of the old Babylon fortress, then saw a sequence of remarkable buildings. For example, the Ahmed Ibn Tulane mosque was built in 878 BC.

In 1168, a fire destroyed Fustat after a fight against crusaders. A commander named Jawhar then founded a new city, Al Qahirah (Cairo). This new city became Egypt’s official capital and home to the magnificent Khan el Khalili Bazaar. During the 11th century, Salah El-din ruled Egypt. He transformed Cairo into an imperial metropolis and constructed the strong Cairo fortress.

At the beginning of the 19th century, a man named Muhammed Ali sought to restore Egypt’s beauty. He built the Mohamed Ali Mosque, one of Cairo’s most beautiful and celebrated landmarks.

The Importance of Cairo City

Modern Cairo is much larger than the original city, which was built in the 10th century by the Fatimid dynasty. That historical section is now known as Islamic Medieval Cairo. The larger city earned the nickname “The City of a Thousand Minarets” due to its numerous mosques, tombs, and churches. It also houses Al-Azhar University, the world’s second-oldest institution for higher Islamic science learning, and is the home of the Arab League’s headquarters.

The heart of Cairo holds several key cultural sites. The Egyptian Museum houses countless artifacts and monuments dating back to the 26th dynasty. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is the permanent home of the royal mummies of ancient Egyptian kings. Cairo also features the world’s largest museum, the Giza GEM Museum.

The city is the headquarters of Egypt’s government and the nerve center for all political and financial power. It also has the Middle East’s largest mass media hub and film and music production facilities. Additionally, it is home to many cultural institutions, museums, artistic institutes, sports clubs, and colleges.

Cairo’s weather

Cairo’s climate is extremely diverse, with eight months of summer and four months of winter; thus, the best time to visit is from November to April. The metropolis has a population of 9 million people, creating a very bustling environment across the city.

Cairo’s Top Things to do

Cairo is a rare city that has survived the test of time, preserving and developing its heritage. To fully appreciate its charm, you can do several things. Take a dinner cruise on the Nile River, tour Pharaonic, Coptic, and Islamic monuments, or shop at the Khan El Khalili Bazaar. You can also visit Cairo’s many museums and cultural institutions.

For more information on the best things to do in Cairo, you can check out Cairo day tours. If you’re not in Egypt and want to visit the land of the Pharaohs, explore different Egypt tour packages to find your perfect vacation.