Cairo

A thrilling place to visit, Cairo is Africa's largest city. It is also one of the most crowded, this, coupled with the historical aura of the place lends it an atmosphere like no other. Here all the icons that epitomise Egypt gather together, the Nile passes by, the Pyramids are visible from all over the city and desert sands blow through the streets.

Despite the presence of the Pyramids in its suburbs Cairo is not an ancient city. The Fatamids founded the city in the latter part of the 9th century AD. The city became a royal residence and capital; it was a centre of the Islamic world as well as for the Coptic Christian church. It had its best moments under the Mamelukes, the former mercenaries who turned on their rulers. They built the cities best mosques and palaces between 1250 and the end of their rule in 1517.

Apart from the Pyramids the place to visit in Cairo is the Egyptian Museum. This houses, as you might imagine all manner of archaeological articles. The world famous contents of Tutankhamuns tomb reside here as well as 11 royal mummies.

Also worth a look is Islamic Cairo with numerous mosques, an Islamic museum and the Citadel. The districts that make up much of Islamic Cairo have remained unchanged for centuries.

Testimony to the resilience and adaptability of their faith is the Coptic community, one of the world's earliest Christian outposts. Visit the Coptic Museum for more background information and a look at examples of early Christian art.