Day 01
Citadel, Old Cairo, Cave Church, and Islamic Cairo
- A tour representative will pick you up from your hotel in Cairo to begin one of our Cairo and Giza tours.
- Transfer to the Citadel of Salah al-Din, built under the order of Saladin between 1176 and 1183 to protect the city from European attacks. Today, it is one of Cairo's main tourist attractions and offers privileged views over the city. Here, you will also visit Mohamed Ali's "Alabaster Mosque", considered the largest mosque built at the beginning of the 19th century by the ruler of Egypt (1805-1849), who ruled the country for over 45 years. It was built in Turkish style.
- Then move to Ahmed Ibn Tulun Mosque, one of Egypt's most important and oldest Islamic monuments, built 1142 years ago. It includes the first spiral minaret erected in the sky of Egypt and is also considered one of the hanging mosques, built on a rocky peak called "Shukr" on Mokattam Mountain.
- Then move to visit Old Cairo.
- Visit Babylon Fortress, also known as the Wax Palace of Babylon Castle, an ancient fortress located in Cairo, Egypt. The fortress is considered one of the largest fortresses of the Roman civilization in Egypt and one of the largest fortresses built by the empire. It also became the center on which the city of Fustat was built. Then continue to fascinating wonders such as the Hanging Church, built in the 3rd and early 4th century in the Basilica style.
- The Hanging Church of Cairo rises majestically on the ancient tower of the Fortress of Babylon. With an interior full of symbolism and icons, it has become one of the most visited monuments in Egypt's most magnetic city. With an essence that mixes Roman, Egyptian, and Babylonian architecture, it is a place where legend and history blur.
- Then move to visit the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus, which holds a special place among the other Coptic churches because it is linked to the path of the Holy Family during their escape from King Herod to the land of Egypt. According to Christian belief, the church's name is attributed to Saints Sergius and Bacchus, who were martyred in the region of Rusafa in Syria.
- No one can be in Coptic Cairo without visiting the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo, once called El-Shamieen Church, now located behind the Hanging Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Visit Amr Ibn El-Aas Mosque, the first mosque built in Egypt. After that, transfer to important mosques and high places of worship for the Islamic faith in Cairo. With 80 percent of its population following Islam, Cairo showcases amazing architecture through its artistic mosques built for worship.
- Then move to visit the important Church of Simon the Tanner (fl. 10th century), also known as Saint Simon the Shoemaker (Sam'an al-Kharraz), the Coptic Orthodox saint associated with the story of moving Mokattam Mountain in Cairo during the rule of the Muslim Fatimid Caliph al-Muizz Lideenillah (953-975), while Abraham the Syrian was the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Simon the Tanner lived toward the end of the tenth century, when many Coptic Christians in Egypt were engaged in handicrafts. Saint Simon worked in tanning, a craft still known there today. This profession involved other crafts related to skins, which is why Simon carried several titles: Tanner, Cobbler, and Shoemaker.
- You will continue to explore as our representative accompanies you to El Azhar, where you will have the chance to visit and enjoy the first Islamic university. Next is a mosque in Bab Zuweila, Al Mouayyed Mosque. Badr Al Dein Al Gamal supervised the construction of the mosque.
- Then walk the road to another Islamic mosque, Al Hussein Mosque, and the unique Islamic house Beit El Sehimy. The trip continues to the Fatimid Al Hakam Mosque. Before the Islamic Cairo tour is over, make a final stop at the beautiful Bab al Fetouh and Bab Al Nasr, which were supervised during construction by Gawhar El Sakaly. After the trip, you will drive to Khan El Khalili Bazaar, if there is enough time, one of the most famous and oldest bazaars in the Middle East.
- You will also drive to Khan El Khalili Bazaar, if there is enough time, one of the most famous and oldest bazaars in the Middle East. The bazaar is loud, crowded, colourful, and exciting, full of goods and shiny baubles. You can find the typical tourist trinkets here, but do not let them distract you from the genuinely fine shopping to be found here.
You will then be transferred back to your hotel.
