Significance of Cairo

City of Cairo:

Cairo is a world city that fills the soul, heart, and spirit of every traveler with the warmth of thousands of suns, brimming with heavenly ancient wonders, modern attractions, remarkable culture, and the opportunity to experience the true essence of beauty, class, and magic. The purpose of this article is to provide every traveler with all the information and details about the legendary city of Cairo. This article was written by a team of highly experienced and knowledgeable tour operators, guides, and travel consultants.

Location of Cairo:

Cairo has served as an endless time capsule, a guardian, and a center for culture, art, and beauty for thousands of years. It is famous for being the capital of Egypt, the largest metropolitan area in Africa, the Middle East, and the Arab world, and the 15th largest city in the world. Cairo (Al Qahirah) means “The Conqueror” in Arabic and is one of the few cities in the world that has stood the test of time. Cairo occupies an area of about 528 square kilometers in the north of Egypt, 120 km (75 miles) west of the Gulf of Suez and the Suez Canal, 165 km (100 miles) south of the Mediterranean Sea, and lies on both banks of the Nile near the Nile Delta.

History of Cairo:

Cairo has always been associated with the ancient city of Memphis, which dates back 5,000 years. Memphis is located 24 km southwest of Cairo. Close by is the Giza pyramid complex, which houses the only remaining ancient wonder of the world: the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Early traces of Egypt can be traced back to the Romans 2,000 years ago, when they took over Egypt and built a fortress called Babylon, which became the center of the Orthodox community during the Coptic era in the late 4th century. The true history of the city began in 641 AD when Amr ibn Al-As conquered Egypt and established the new Islamic capital of Egypt, Al-Fustat, just north of the old Babylon fortress. From that point on, a series of spectacular immortal structures were built in the city, such as the Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun in 878 AD.

In 970, during the Fatimid dynasty, a general named Jawhar founded a new city named Al Qahirah (Cairo) northeast of the present settlements, which became the official capital of Egypt in this dynasty, along with the magical Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, after the destruction of the city of Fustat by flames in 1168 during a battle with the Crusaders. In the 11th century, Egypt fell under the rule of Salah El-Din, who transformed the city into an imperial metropolis and built the mighty Cairo Citadel. In 1340, Cairo officially became the largest city in Africa, Asia Minor, and Europe, as well as a center for the spice trade. Al-Azhar University became the center of Islamic studies and was constructed by the Mamluk dynasty as one of Cairo's greatest architectural masterpieces. In modern times, in the early 19th century, a man named Muhammad Ali tried to restore Egypt's beauty to its former glory and built the Muhammad Ali Mosque, which remains one of Cairo's most enchanting landmarks. Muhammad Ali's descendants continued his great work, with his grandson Ismail Pasha (1863–1879) building boulevards, avenues, and a modern district named Downtown Cairo, influenced by Baron Haussmann’s renovations in Paris. Since the 1950s, many developments have taken place, with new cities, museums, vast art galleries, and projects still being built. Additionally, many developments are underway to prepare for the growing population and to provide the necessary transport and infrastructure services needed by everyone in Cairo, both today and in the future.

Significance of Cairo:

Throughout history, Egypt always had a capital, but the Cairo we know today was founded in 969 AD by the Fatimid dynasty and became the center of political and cultural life in the region. The city became known as the "City of a Thousand Minarets" due to its many mosques, palaces, and churches. The city is home to the world’s second oldest university, Al-Azhar University, and the headquarters of the Arab League. In the heart of Cairo lies the sound of freedom at Tahrir Square and the House of Magic, the Egyptian Museum, which houses many artifacts and monuments from the 26th dynasty. The city is the seat of the government and the core of all financial and political control. It is also home to the largest mass media center and the largest film and music production in the Middle East, many cultural centers, museums such as the Grand Egyptian Museum, art institutes, sports clubs, and universities.

Climate of Cairo:

Cairo’s climate is quite different, with 8 months of summer and 4 months of winter. Therefore, the best time to explore it is from November to April. The city is home to 9 million inhabitants, creating a highly busy environment throughout the city.

Location and People of Cairo

The historic center of Cairo was designated a World Heritage Site in 1979. Cairo has a population of over 9 million people and covers an area of 453 km² (175 square miles), making it by far the largest city in Egypt. Cairo is a city in Egypt, part of the African continent, shaped like a fan, narrowest in the south where the river valley flows between desert cliffs and widest in the north where the valley transitions into the delta. Throughout history, Cairo expanded westward as a receding river channel freed the land from floods. Cairo has extended north and south and has established a growing urban development on the west bank of the Nile. Cairo’s population is both ethnically and religiously diverse, predominantly Muslim, with a significant number of Egyptian Christians, mostly adherents of the Coptic Orthodox faith. Cairo is a true cultural capital of the Middle East and an important center for mass media. It remains the most important religious and cultural institution in the region.

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Kairo-Stadt transalt to english