Through this article, we will take you on a journey to discover the best things to see in Cairo, Cairo is not only the capital of Egypt but also its most populous city, the engine of its economy, and the true soul of the country. It is also a much more interesting tourist destination than is often believed since it is often overshadowed by the long shadow cast by the Pyramids of Giza. Although it often takes only a couple of days to visit, the truth is that there is a lot to see from different points of view. Extraordinary mosques, historical monuments, neighborhoods with a lot of personality, art museums, bazaars with a 100% Islamic flavor and aroma

Cairo the heart of Egypt and the Islamic world

Cairo is not only the capital but also the heart of Egypt. Socially, politically, economically, religiously, and geographically, as it is considered the center of the country, the link between Upper and Lower Egypt, between the Delta and the Nile Valley. And a similar centrality has had and continues to have in the Arab world.

For example, its dialect is recognized as the common version of Arabic, its media are broadcast both in North Africa and in the Middle East (although today the Qatari television station Al-Jazeera has become a reference point) and its leaders, governing from here, have traditionally played an integrating role in this geopolitical chessboard. For all these reasons, it is no coincidence that what has to do with Cairo ends up having repercussions throughout the Arab world

Khan El Khalili Market

At this point you can take two directions: turn left or go straight ahead. If you decide to go to your left, heading east, you will come to two major points of interest: the Jan el-Jalili market and the Hussein Mosque. The Jan el-Jalili market is undoubtedly one of the great attractions of the city, one of those places that you ‘must’ see in Cairo: this great bazaar, whose origins date back to the fourteenth century, seduces any visitor not only for the handicrafts sold here but for the explosion of colors of the fabrics, the sounds of hammering brass or the aroma of spices from the food stalls. A place in which to put into practice the art of bargaining, a must to be able to buy here. In the area, there are also places with a lot of history and fame, such as the Fishawi coffee shop, the oldest in the city, located in Midan Hussein Square, one of the busiest in the historic center. In this same square is precisely the Al-Hussein Mosque, one of the things you have to see in Islamic Cairo if you are interested in this religion. It may not be the most outstanding historical-artistic level, as it is one of the most recent of the Egyptian capital: although its origins date back to the Mamluk period (mid-twelfth century), the current temple was rebuilt in the late nineteenth century. However, it is a most remarkable temple because the remains of Hussein ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and son of Fatima, to whom the Fatimid dynasty was considered the heir, are preserved here. Therefore, this is a particularly sacred place for Shiite Muslims, but also highly respected by the Sunni current, the majority in the country. On the other hand, if from the madrasa-museum of Sultan Qalawun you continue straight on along Al-Muizz Street you will reach Al-Azhar Street, created in the twentieth century by distorting this medieval axis. On the other side of the street is another complex of great interest: the Wekalet El Ghoury. It houses madrasa and mausoleum, but above all, it is used as a venue for cultural and folkloric performances. Its beautiful architecture is a beautiful epitaph from the Mamluk period (early 16th century), shortly before the Ottoman occupation.