egypt’s Cairo / Giza
A visit to Cairo’s many attractions is to savour the history of a civilisation stretching from the Ancient World to today. Right, the incomparable Sphinx
that include the Tutankhamun galleries, royal mummy room and ancient Egyptian jewellery.
After being closed for eight years for a multi-million renovation programme Cairo’s Museum of Islamic Art reopened in 2010. Considered one of the greatest museums of its kind, it has an exceptional collection of rare wood artefacts, ornate manuscripts, ceramic, glass and textile items. To the east of the modern city centre is Islamic Cairo and the Citadel of Saladin overlooking teeming bazaars, imposing places of worship and with fantastic views over the city as far as the pyramids. Other sights include Al Azhar Mosque, one of Cairo’s oldest mosques and the world’s oldest operating university.
Haggling in the market maze Old Cairo, south of the centre, is home to Cairo’s Coptic Christian community, arguably the world’s oldest Christian denomination. A living history museum, notable churches include the Hanging Church situated over the gatehouse of a Roman fortress. From here visitors can explore Islamic Cairo and inevitably get lost in Khan al Khalili bazaar, Cairo’s best-known and busiest market. In the maze of shops you’ll find everything from cheap souvenirs to sheesha hubble- bubble pipes, papyrus paintings and fine silver and gold. Haggling is part of the experience so start by offering a third of the asking price. For bigger wares, such as carpets, a cup of sweet mint tea will be offered by the shopkeeper and is all part of the bargaining process. Tourist shops have opened where the price you see is what you pay, but when visiting a country steeped in so much history it seems a shame not to indulge in a trading tradition that’s gone on for centuries.
Cairo can be exhausting and when it’s time for a break cool off in a bar with a glass of the refreshing yoghurt-based drink zabaady or a strong Egyptian coffee that delivers a hefty caffeine kick to recharge the batteries. Spring and autumn are good times to visit, when temperatures are cooler, and the hottest months are June to August when they nudge 40C. But with air-conditioned hotels, tourist buses and limousines the city is a year-round destination. Cairo has a huge choice of hotels, particularly in the four- and five-star
category, with properties such as the Semiramis InterContinental, Sheraton, Marriott and Ramses Hilton overlooking the Nile. Many hotels, such as the Four Seasons, have excellent spas combining the Egyptian philosophy of inner and outer beauty with a range of treatments featuring natural ingredients and exotic oils. Situated in the city’s trendy Mohandeseen suburb is the Havana Hotel
For bigger wares, such as carpets, a cup of sweet mint tea will be offered by the shopkeeper and is all part of the bargaining process.
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Cairo, which has been extensively refurbished over the last ten months. The 25-room property is a quality three-star hotel jointly owned by two Egyptian and English families.
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