Cairo: Back to the beginning of civilization

There is no place in the world, and that’s not an overstatement, that has history, culture and landmarks to match the city of Cairo. It truly is where you can see the start of civilization and, coincidently, it’s the start of GetAway Travel’s Egypt adventure in 2026. There’s nothing stopping you from letting GetAway help you plan a trip there sooner, but we would certainly love to have you join us! With a population of 16 million people, Cairo is a vibrant city that exudes historical significance. There  is no other city in the world with more monuments of religious, military and modern relevance. But then there’s pyramids, camels, mummies, museums, temples and mosques.

Let’s get right to the pyramids

 The pyramids of Giza are one of the wonders of the ancient world. There are actually six pyramids in the Giza Necropolis (burial ground). The pyramid fields, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, actually stretch from Giza to Dashur, about 19 miles, and are all part of the ancient capital city of Memphis. The earliest pyramids were actually built in the Saqqara necropolis, northwest of the ruins of Memphis.

Pharaoh Doser, sometimes referred to as Zoser, started with a flat surface and added six stepped layers to form a 204-foot-high stepped pyramid. Years later, in Dashur, Pharaoh Sneferu tried his hand at a pyramid and he built what is now referred to as the Bent Pyramid. The first attempt to build a pyramid with smooth sides went awry when misplaced weight caused part of it to sink, so it looks bent. Sneferu had better luck with his second pyramid, built of red limestone, it was about 340 feet high, had a 43° angle and it had smooth sides and a point at the top. The sides of the pyramid are supposed to symbolize sunlight while the point shows ascent to the sky.

Sneferu’s son, using his father’s research, had even better luck. Khufu built the next pyramid, the great pyramid in the Giza fields, at a 52° angle, it was 481 feet high with smooth sides. Time and erosion have caused some of the earlier pyramids to crumble and the pyramids that remain to shrink due to the limestone flaking off and blowing away. Khufu’s son, Khafre built his pyramid by his father’s and one-upped everyone by adding the sphinx. Well, played Khafre.

It is thought the sphinx was carved from a giant piece of rock uncovered during the building of the pyramids and it was supposed to stand guard over the final resting places. Khafre’s son, Meukaure and his queen have pyramids in the Giza field, too.

Although the large pyramids get all the publicity, there are numerous smaller buildings and private tombs on the field where consorts, public officials and lesser members of the royal families were buried or entombed.

Things to remember, it is going to be dusty, wear comfortable shoes and, don’t skip the pyramids. They are awe-inspiring, breathtaking monuments and seeing them is so, so worth it.

Cairo is more than pyramids

 Cairo has had a pivotal, central role in religious and cultural development for the country. The city’s historic district, Old Cairo, has the world’s highest concentration of Islamic architecture.

You can’t help but notice an example of that architecture. The Citadel of Salah al-Din dominates the skyline of Cairo. Set on a rocky hill, its huge dome and minarets are always visible. The citadel has several venues on the grounds including the Alabaster Mosque or the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. It has distinctive domes and very high minarets. It has a huge solid marble pulpit, the largest in the country, and the sun reflects off the gilt and crystal-covered surfaces.

There are 136 stunning stained-glass windows in the domes and the courtyard is also beautiful. There is a grand fountain and 47 arched doorways to admire there.

There are several other mosques on the citadel grounds and a military and interesting carriage museum.

There’s ancient churches and amazing synagogues throughout Old Cairo. Ben Ezra Synagogue is one of the most impressive synagogues. According to legends, it was built on the spot where baby Moses was found. There were renovations, expansions and it was finally completed in 1892 and the Turkish influence is quite evident. There is extensive floral work on the inside as well as patterns of stars, rectangles and pentagons on the walls, ceiling and floor.

The nearby Church of St. George is believed to be where Joseph, Mary and Jesus stayed after they fled from King Herod. Constructed during the 10th century, it was rebuilt after a major fire and is one of the few round churches ever built in Egypt. The country’s principle Greek Orthodox Church, it was built over the ruins of an old Roman tower and you can still see the remnants of the tower inside. The interior features beautiful stained glass and rich, dark wood.

The Hanging Church is one of the oldest and largest churches in Egypt. It’s the hanging church because it is located above an ancient Roman fortress gate. Thought to have been built around 690 AD, it houses a stunning collection of icons. Many of the 110 icons are made of ebony inlaid with ivory. They feature Mary, Jesus, Archangels Michael and Gabriel, St. Peter, St. Paul and John the Baptist. The domed roof was designed to mimic Noah’s Ark.

The Egyptian Museum has more than 100,000 artifacts, the largest Egyptian collection in the world The Royal Mummies room, which requires an additional fee, has mummies of 17 kings and three queens.

The creative economy of the city is based on folk art and crafts and Cairo is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for Crafts and Folk Art. Artisans work hard to preserve the cultural heritage in all areas including glassblowing, copper smithing, pottery, ceramics and jewelry. At the Khan El-Khalifli market, you can find a treasure trove of fabulous craft and artisan items. In ancient times, the market was the last stop on the trade route.

Whether you want to travel to Cairo with GetAway in 2026, or you want to plan a separate adventure, our travel advisors can help you out. Check back for more blogs giving details on other parts of Egypt we’ll be exploring. We can be reached at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel