Old Cairo City Guide (Cairo, Egypt)

Tread lightly through the ancient narrow alleyways of the oldest area in Cairo, as the native Coptic Christians have, as they faced adversity and persecution throughout the centuries. 

Also known as: Coptic Cairo, Historic Cairo

Old Cairo is home to the days of Egypt's Christian past. Surprising to most, Christian Egyptians were the majority after the pharaonic religion, and prior to the arrival of Isalm. Protected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Old Cairo pre-dates the current city of Cairo, and is the oldest district in the city today.

Old Cairo is located mostly inside the walls of the famous Fortress of Babylon. This area is dense with Christian churches and other sites that contain the largest collection of Coptic Christian artwork and artifacts in the world. The Roman Fortress of Babylon paved the way for the establishment of today's Cairo. In 640, the fort was defeated after a 7 month long siege during the Muslim Conquests of Egypt. This was known as the famous "fall of Babylon," and was the "official sign" that Muslims had successfully conquered Egypt. The fall of the fortress was even more significant than the Muslim conquering of Alexandria (Egypt's capital at the time). During their invasion, the Muslims conquerors, known as the Fatimids, realized the importance of Old Cairo's location. They thus made the area of Old Cairo, along with it's surrounding areas, Cairo, the new capital of it's Islamic state of Egypt, as we know it today.

Today, Old Cairo remains the home of Cairo's Coptic Christian community. The Coptic Orthodox Church traces it's roots to Saint Mark the Apostle in 42 AD, and is thus arguably the world's oldest Christian denomination. The majority of Egyptians converted to Islam in the 12th century, when Egypt was conquered by the Fatimids and turned into an Islamic State. Egypt's remaining Coptic Christians were, and have been, viewed as heretics by Muslim rulers, invaders, and even the Crusaders. Despite centuries of persecution, the Coptic Christians of Old Cairo have continued to remain, with around 12 million aligned with the faith

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Top Things to See in Old Cairo

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Ben Ezra Synagogue

Egypt's oldest surviving synagogue, which is an establishment where Jewish congregation meets for religious worship and instruction. It was established in the 9th century, where it was originally housed in a Coptic church, until the Copts were forced to sell the church in order to pay high taxes imposed upon them by Muslim rule. Inside the Synagogue's basement, the famed Geniza Documents were discovered, which have been of great interest to modern scholars of the medieval period in Egypt. 
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Coptic Museum

Built in 1908, and recently restored to a higher standard, the Coptic Museum houses Coptic art and artifacts from from the late Roman empire through to the Islamic era and beyond. The presentation is clear in English, French and Arabic with generally well thought out lighting. 
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Church of St. George

Established in the 10th century, this church is the most famous Greek Orthodox church in Cairo. It's location is based where a Babylonian captive settlement was established, after prisoners were relocated to Egypt from Asia by Pharaoh Ramses I. To visitors, this Greek Orthodox church is often mistook as a Coptic Christian Church. Today, a Greek sign is in place outside the church for clarification. A devastating fire occurred in the church in 1904. The church was restored, and the current structure of the church only dates now to the early 20th century. Through it's history, the Church of St. George has served many purposes such as a convent, hospital, elders home, poorhouse, school and cemetery. The Church is free to visit and open daily from 9am - 5pm. Also on this site, is the St George Monastery. However, the monastery is not open to the public. 
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Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church (Hanging Church)

This church is one of the oldest churches in Egypt, dating back to the 3rd century AD. The most famous Coptic Christian Church in Cairo, The Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church is known as the "Hanging Church," because it's nave is suspended over a passage. Today, however, the surface around the church has risen nearly six meters, making the visual impact of the church's elevated postilion less spectacular. The church holds 110 icons, with some dating back as early as the 8th century. Since it's establishment, the church has claimed several reported apparitions of The Virgin Mary. Admission is free.
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Roman Fortress Towers of Babylon (Fortress of Babylon)

The first towers were built by the Persians around the 6th century BC, along the eastern cliffs overlooking The Nile River. When the Romans conquered Egypt, they quickly saw the strategic significance of the towers, as control of The Nile. They occupied the former-Persian towers, built additional towers, and established the Fortress of Babylon.The fort served as a boundary between the Lower and Middle Egypt, where boats paid tolls while traveling along The Nile River. 

The Roman Fortress had walls stretching across it's boundaries. Inside it's enclosures, a convent, and several churches (including the Church of St. George and the Hanging Church) were protected. Many of
these buildings still stand today, within the now crumbled walls of the former fortress. 

The Fortress of Babylon protected Old Cairo's existence, and also paved the way for the "new" Cairo's establishment. In 640, the fort was finally defeated after a 7-month siege during the Muslim Conquests of Egypt. This was known as the famous "fall of Babylon," and was the "official sign" that Muslims had successfully conquered Egypt. The fall of the fortress was even more significant than the Muslim conquering of Alexandria (Egypt's capital at the time). Today, the Fortress does not still overlook The Nile, as the river has changed course and now flows over 400 meters north of it's former location where the Roman Fortress was established.

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Old Cairo's Nilometer

Built in 861, the Nilometer is a large stone obelisk that was used to determine the height of the Nile in order to calculate the tax rates for farmers and boat farers. 

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Top Things to Do in Old Cairo: 

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S.S. Nile Peking

Coined as one of the best dinner cruises in Egypt, the Nile Peking is known as the modernized boat from the famous novel (with a movie adaptation) "Death of the Nile." The novel is filled with murder and demise, but ideally your experience will be loads more delightful. The cruise features a fantastic dining room, a Chinese-based menu, a pub (The Shanghai Pub), and a deck where you can sit and watch the Nile River beneath you, admiring it's beauty, as you wade through the waters of one of the most significant rivers in history. 
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City/Church Tours

There are several different tours, ranging from an hour to half-day, that guide you through the city, into churches, and to historical significant points in Old Cairo.