The ancient Egyptians are a civilization that fascinates us still today. Cairo, the capital of Egypt, was at the core of civilization. Founded in 969 C.E., it has evolved into a religious and cultural hotspot for Africa and the Middle East. Cairo is the largest city in Egypt and boasts many resort hotels and tourist attractions. A trip to Cairo offers the best of the modern world as well as a peek into life in ancient Egypt. The first step towards planning your Cairo trip is getting your American passport.
Passports
Getting a passport used to be a hassle until online passport services came along. No matter what you need done – a name change, a US passport renewal, a replacement – it can all be done online. The best part is that it can all be done from your home computer – no more waiting in lines or waiting for weeks upon weeks for your passport to arrive. Because these services are expedited, you can get a passport in time for any trip, no matter the deadline.
World Heritage Sites
Cairo features two notable World Heritage Sites. The first site is Coptic Cairo, once known as Babylon has roots in ancient history. This site is of great important religious, culturally, and historically, it is featured in many religious texts and much cultural lore. Coptic Cairo features five original churches as well as the first mosque and synagogue built in Egypt.
Medieval Sites
Another World Heritage Site in Cairo is, Islamic Cairo. This is the medieval core of Cairo. Those who visit Cairo are witnesses to the most grand and beautiful monuments to Islamic culture in Cairo. Impressive monuments include the Al-Hakim Mosque, the Qalawun complex, Midan Hussein and Sayyidna al-Hussein Mosque. The Syyidna al-Hussein Mosque is one of the most sacred sites in all of Egypt.
Pyramids
The Saqqara Pyramids site is a spot you cannot miss. The complex contains a village and the vast ancient necropolis where many important ancient Egyptian figures were buried. Important structures include the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the Pyramid of Teti I, the Tomb of Ankhmahor, and much more. Cairo is tied so closely to its history, and visiting this site really puts time into perspective.
Giza
Another ancient site that features large scale pyramids is called Dahshur. Dahshur is home to the famous Bent Pyramid, as well as the Red Pyramid of Sneferu. The latter is believed to be Egypt’s oldest standing pyramid. Some people prefer these pyramid sites as opposed to the pyramids of Giza because there are less tourists mulling about.
Exhibits
The museums in Cairo are home to some of the World’s most amazing artifacts and exhibits. The most famous is the Egyptian Antiquities Museum. This museum was built in 1902 and exhibits over 120,000 pieces of ancient Egyptian artifacts. This museum also has specialized sections that offer information about Tutankhamen, old world monuments, and sarcophagi.