We thought it would be interesting to see both Coptic & Islamic Cairo together in one day.
So our Egyptologist will meet you at the lobby of the hotel after breakfast to start your tour.
Tour old Coptic Cairo and visit three Christian churches:
(1) St. Sergius Church - one of the most famous and important churches in Egypt. This church is where the Holy family stayed for at least 6 months living in a crypt;
(2)St. Barbra church – also believed to have hosted the Holy Family for a period of time;
(3) The Hanging Church - built on top of a Roman fortress supported only by parts of the fortress walls with parts of the church suspended over air. Afterward we visit the Coptic Museum with its well displayed collection of Christian relics.
Tour the fabled gates of Old Cairo. The eight gates are from the Fatimid period and only 3 remain. The Arabic word for gate is “Bab” - we have Bab El Ftouh, Bab El Nasser, and Bab Zewila. We will walk from Bab Zewila through El Khayamia street, where locals still sew tents and cochin covers as they have for centuries.
Along this street you will see the old building and windows (Mashrabia in Arabic) with the wood work that is so special. We will walk by Cairo’s own Blue Mosque (different from Turkey’s but still interesting to see). While walking through Bab Zewalia you will find yourself walking through Al Mo’z Steet .
Al Mo’z was the founder of the Fatimid period in Egypt 970 A.D , and it is an amazing experience to walk through in the evening and see the mix of tourists and the Egyptians together.
See our night tour to experience this street at night.