Cairo & Alexandria

Founded in the 7th century close to the ancient Pharaonic city of Memphis, Cairo has had a chequered history, much of it under foreign rule. Despite this, the city has always been an important centre, reaching its zenith in medieval times, when it became the most important Islamic city of the age, described as ‘the metropolis of the universe’ and ‘the garden of the world’. Today, whilst its fortunes may have changed, the city remains a vibrant and exciting place to visit. Its sights are also a fascinating showcase of Egyptian history across the ages.

Just a small selection of these sights include: the Step Pyramid at Sakkara, the oldest of the pyramids; the Great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza, the only survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; the Roman Fortress and ancient churches of ‘Old Cairo’; Islamic and Medieval Cairo and the mosques and palaces of the Citadel, built by Saladin in the 12th century, and, from modern times, the Art Deco architecture of Cairo’s glamorous age in the 1920s and 30s, and the winding alleys of the Khan el Khalili Bazaar - the largest in the Middle East. However, one of the city’s most important sights is perhaps the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which houses the world's greatest collection of Egyptian antiquities, including treasures from the Tomb of Tutenkhamun.

Known as the ‘Pearl of the Mediterranean’, Egypt’s second city, Alexandria, is no less important. Founded in 332BC by Alexander the Great, in ancient times Alexandria became a great centre of learning, culture and trade, and one of the most famous cities in the world. With the advent of the Romans, which saw the destruction of the Great Library, and the Arab invasion, the city began centuries of decline though in recent years it has enjoyed something of a renaissance.

Today, little of the ancient city remains, much, including the Royal Palace and the magnificent Pharos, having sunk into the sea as a result of earthquakes, or been destroyed in centuries of conflict. However the city, which still retains some of its legendary appeal, has some interesting sights that include: the Greco-Roman catacombs of Kom al-Shoqafa, Pompey’s Pillar at the Serapium; Qait Bay Fort, which houses the naval museum; the 19th century Palace of Ras al-Tin where King Farouk abdicated in 1952; the Greco-Roman Museum, and the striking new Bibliotheca Alexandrina.