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Islamic
& Christian |
| Islamic
Cairo |
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Following
their conquest of Egypt in 641 AD,
the
Muslims built their city, Al-Fustat,
on what is now
the southern border
of modern Cairo. Successive
dynasties established
their own capital,
each one further to the northeast of the
old, until Salah El-Din
built the impressive citadel
(Al-Qalaa) on a rocky spur and
settled the capital's location. During
the Mamluk era which
lasted from 1250 to
1517, a wealth of
Mosques, mausoleums and
Islamic buildings were
added. Today, Islamic Cairo's maze of narrow,
congested streets teems with
life, challenging the senses
with its unique
blend of sights, sounds and
smells, and vivid glimpses of the
past. Most of the mosques
are open to non-Muslims, and
charge a small entrance fee. |
| Coptic
Cairo |
| Coptic
Cairo is the modern
name for oldest
part
of the city. The compound
lies within the walls of the
1st century AD Roman fortress of
Babylon and is a haven
of
quiet, narrow lanes and
ancient holy places.
The main entrance, leading
to the interesting Coptic
Museum and the beautiful Hanging Church, is
between two round
Roman towers, against
which the waters of
the Nile once lapped
before
the river shifted course
to the west some centuries
ago. A second, stepped
entrance to the north
leads along a sunken
alley to the rest
of the churches, the synagogue and the cemeteries. |
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