The city of Cairo:

The capital of Egypt is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture, which is one of the reasons why it is also called The City of a Thousand Minarets and its residents call it Mother of the World. The lush vegetation and the winding Nile offer a spectacular setting to this city. Almost all the Egyptian Pyramids are situated close to Cairo with Giza next to the very edge of the city. The mix of cultures in Cairo includes the 4500 year old Pyramids and modern malls, ancient churches and 19th century French architecture of apartment complexes, vibrant street markets, skyscrapers and vast cemeteries. The Sound and Light show at the Pyramids or a dinner in a floating restaurant on the Nile or in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Cairo Tower are just some of the experiences you can enjoy while visiting a fascinating city.

Cairo Highlights:

• Al-Refa'i Mosque: This mosque is situated opposite Sultan Hassan Mosque. Both look similar to one another and were built half a century apart. This spectacular mosque was built in early 20th century in a mock Mamluk style. Dedicated to Khedive Ismail’s mother, Al-Refa’i is incredibly ornate with bright multicolored marble, intricate patterns and gold leaf embellishments.

• Coptic Museum: Has monuments and documents on the history, emergence and life of Christianity in Egypt. The museum is organized based on a number of categories: there is a wood section, icon section, stone section, metal section and manuscript section.

• Cairo Tower: This is the world’s tallest concrete structure, and amazingly, no steel frames and columns have been used in its construction. The tower stands on a concrete slab with steel reinforcements and measures 14 meters in diameter. A revolving restaurant, a cafe; and a deck for outdoor public viewing are situated on the tower’s top capsule.

• Mastaba of Mereruka: This is the world’s largest tomb complex and dates back to the sixth Dynasty in the Egyptian era.