Been to “The City of a Thousand Minarets?” π
Oh, the lovely vibes, the cheerful character, the mesmerizing colors of the amazing city of Cairo!! π«
The Capital City of Egypt has been getting to me for quite a long time, and I am more than intrigued by its culture and upbeat persona.
The medieval vibe of the “Al-Madina Al-Mahrousa” has been attracting tourists all year round!
This intrigued me to dig up some CAIRO-SOME ( π) facts about the City and share them with all of you too!!
Sit back with your favorite snack π₯ while I let your mind fly into Egypt’s wonder City- Cairo!
Let’s fly!!! βοΈ(NOT LITERALLY, OF COURSEπ)
Facts on Cairo- Egyptβs Capital
The House of the Only Standing Ancient Wonder Across the Globe
Out of the ancient wonders that we are aware of, from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus to the Lighthouse of Alexandria- the only one standing tall is the Great Pyramid of Giza, located in Cairo.
Primarily constructed for King Khufu as his final resting place, this pyramid is a sight for sore eyes! ποΈποΈ
Oh, what I would give to be there right now! π
Meet Babylon Fortress- the Oldest Structure of Cairo
It is believed that Cairo’s foundation was laid by millennium settlements years back, like Babylon.
Situated between the boundary of Middle and Lower Egypt, it is said that the Persians laid out the original construction of the Fortress towards the 6th Century BC.
Controversies surround the construction of the Babylon Fortress, as it is also believed to have been raised in 30 B.C. after Emperor Augustus arrived.
All history apart, it is the oldest structure to have survived the odds of time. π°οΈ
Cairo is the birthplace of Naguib Mahfouz- the first Arabian Nobel Prize Winner for Literature.
Literature has been my favorite for ages now! π
And it took me aback when I discovered this interesting fact about the City- Cairo is the birthplace of the famous Arab Writer Naguib Mahfouz.
His subject mostly revolved around Egyptian Nationalism, and he was also one of the first writers when Arabic Literature was being discussed.
Born in 1911, he received the Nobel Prize in 1988 for Literature.
The first Mosque built in Cairo- the Al-Azhar Mosque
The Egyptian Mosque, Al-Azhar, was the first to be built in Cairo. π
This Mosque is situated within the Islamic Cairo, and it was constructed by the Fatimid dynasty in 970, as ordered by Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah.
Cairo got its name, The City of a Thousand Minarets, from this Mosque.
The Mosque is known for its beautiful architectural styles and extensions and remains one of the most loved tourist destinations.
Wishing you were there? π§ββοΈ Yes, me too!π€π»π€π»
Cairo is home to the world’s oldest university- the Al-Azhar University
The oldest and the second largest institution known for its great quality education is Al-Azhar University.
There was a time when this university was the only one across Egypt to provide educational degrees.
It is known to provide a variety of courses for students to enroll in. π
The largest Food Court globally is hosted by Cairo
If you are a foodie like me, this fact will leave you feeling hungry! π
Oasis Restaurants and Entertainment, situated in Cairo, is just the perfect place for any food lover. π±
4223 patrons can be seated at one go, and there are 25 restaurants with almost 41,000 square miles of different and delectable foods!!
Not just food, this place is known for its relaxing kid’s zone, which allows you to savor your meals without fuss.
You can also choose to opt for a good movie within the court!
Sounds like a place I would love to be in, what about you? π§
Known as the City of Festivals
If you are interested in being constantly exposed to festivals, Cairo is the one place you would love to be in! π
From music festivals to food festivals to fashion festivals, you can expect it all.
The most loved festivals of Cairo include the Cairo Bites- ideal for national and international cuisine lovers, the Cairo Fashion Festival, and the Cairo Jazz Festival.
These festivals add to the POMP of the great city! πͺ π
Mankind’s Cradle- The Cairo City
Oh boy! This is where it all started? π§
Well, yes, as per shreds of evidence from archaeologists, Cairo is believed to be the cradle of mankind.
Many people there call Cairo Umm al-Dunya “mother of the world.” π©π»π
Peeping through modern lenses, it can be said that the artifacts, discoveries, and more, date back to the time civilization was starting.
The Holy Family was in Cairo
Amen! β°
It is believed that the baby Jesus, along with his parents, Father Joseph and Mother Mary, stayed in what is now the Abu Serga in Coptic Cairo.
They were on their journey to spread the word of the Almighty.
The rich historic architecture is also what Coptic Cairo is renowned for!
Hollywood of the Middle East
You might be as amazed as I was to know this! π¬
Cairo is also lovingly called the Hollywood of the Middle East, as some of the largest music and film industries are here.
When visiting Cairo, you can spot film houses, cinemas, malls, film centers, and more that play documentaries and films. πΏ
The international film festival in Cairo brings together talent from different nooks and corners of the world.
Therefore, if you want to make it big- you can fly to Cairo! π₯
Cairo is protected by UNESCO
Islamic Cairo is one popular area in the great city, and it was honored by UNESCO.
This was declared a world heritage site, and the city was included as a Heritage Site in 1979, along with 600 monuments here.
Proud moments for the locals, I am sureπ
This city’s cultural and architectural significance is what bestowed it with the title of heritage site.
Breathtaking Shopping Experience Provided by Cairo
Who doesn’t love to shop? ποΈ
Well, I do, and I couldn’t resist putting in this fact as well!!
One of the most mesmerizing places to shop (globally) is the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar of Cairo!
Historic significance says that the bazaar served as a major retail area towards 1400 A.D.
The maze-like structure of the bazaar never fails to impress tourists here.
The colorful shops will not only lift up your spirits. Still, they will also offer you traditional Egyptian lamp shades, metal figures, locally woven fabrics, and trinkets you can carry home.
Ahhh-maaziiinggg!! π€©
The Great Operation Base of Britain- Cairo
We all know about Britain and colonialism, don’t we?!
It amazed me to know that Egypt was a colony too, and Cairo was the base from where they operated! π€―
In fact, the British laid down the current transport network in the country, and all these networks connect to the urban center, Cairo.
Cairo Metro is the 15th busiest worldwide
Up for a Metro ride in Cairo, anyone? π
As much as metros have made our lives easier, did you know that Africa has only two metros, one being Cairo?
The Cairo metro isn’t just popular; it ranks amongst the 15th busiest metro network globally.
Cairo metro observes at least a billion passengers annually and is, by far, one of the most effective mediums of transportation!
For a short duration, Cairo was in Napoleon’s Hands
Hail Emperor Napoleon! π
But who knew that this great emperor ruled Cairo for a short period?
For about three years, after the Ottoman Empire lost to Emperor Napoleon, he was the city’s administrative head.
But this changed when a counterstrike restored back the Ottoman Empire, their beloved city!
Goosebumps, huh?!
Cairo is a fan-shaped city
Ah, yes, you read that right! π
Cairo is shaped almost like a fan! πͺ
The city expands into the North, and the valley here forms into the delta, further tapering on to the south, and here, the river valley is divided into desert cliffs.
This is what provides the city with a beautiful and unique fan shape.
The Cairo Tower is the tallest free-standing monument
This fact impressed me the most! ‡οΈ
Situated on Geiza Island, the Cairo Tower is known for its architectural divinity!
The modern free-standing tower is believed to be a popular landmark, standing at a height of 187 meters.
For five decades, the Cairo Tower remained the tallest in the African continent until it was surpassed by the Hillbrow Tower of South Africa in 1971.
Cairo Houses One of the Largest Museums in Egypt
Museums smell of history and all things that can be relived only through memories. π°οΈ
The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo is known for the world’s most extensive collections.
1901 Garozzo Zaffarani, a renowned Italian construction company, constructed it.
The museum houses around 120,000 exquisite items and the King Tutankhamun collection.
Nile- the Longest River- Flows Through the City
The last fact, but not the least one, is my word to you!
The longest river in the world, the Nile, flows through the City, embracing two islands, the Roda and the Geiza Islands.
The locals consider the Nile holy, as it makes the lands fertile and allows agriculture to flourish.
In fact, human settlements were believed to be by the banks of the River Nile.
Summing Up
Al- QΔhirah, or Cairo, is a wondrous city known for its marvelous culture, historical remembrances, breathtaking landscapes, and more!
If you are a fact enthusiast like me, I am sure you did have a great time discovering the glorious city! π€©
And if you are banging your head on the wall, trying to think of where to visit next, make sure Cairo is your next stop. π«
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Β Next startupΒ Cledemy.Com)
