Cairo

Cairo

Cairo has the oldest and largest film and music industries in the Arab world, as well as the world's second-oldest institution of higher learning, Al-Azhar University. Many international media, businesses, and organizations have regional headquarters in the city; the Arab League has had its headquarters in Cairo for most of its existence.

With a population of 6.76 million spread over 453 square kilometers (175 sq mi), Cairo is by far the largest city in Egypt. An additional 9.5 million inhabitants live in close proximity to the city. Cairo, like many other mega-cities, suffers from high levels of pollution and traffic. Cairo's metro, one of two in Africa (the other being in Algiers, Algeria), ranks among the fifteen busiest in the world, with over 1 billion annual passenger rides. The economy of Cairo was ranked first in the Middle East in 2005, and 43rd globally on Foreign Policy's 2010 Global Cities Index..

Sports and nature

Sharm El Sheikh has also become a favourite spot for scuba divers from around the world.Being situated

near the Red Sea, it provides some of the most stunning underwater scenery and warm water, making

this an ideal place to dive. Visitors to Sharm El Sheikh can experience a variety of water activities. Beach seekers find many activities such as diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, kitesurfing, para-sailing, boating, and canoeing

Ras Mohammed National Park is located at the most southerly tip of the Sinai Peninsula where the waters of the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez meet. This is home to diverse marine life and with walls plunging to over 800m in depth, wreckage of the Yolanda including toilets & Baths along with strong currents it is not surprising that it ranks within the best areas worldwide

Nightlife

There are two main types of bars in Cairo: traditional Egyptian style bars, known as “caféterias” and typical Western style bars. The “caféterias” have solely male customers and serve small plates of food

Riverside Cairo is a two story venue offering all types of musical entertainment, from live jazz evenings to all night dancing featuring famous DJs. Situated in Zamalek, a vibrant upscale district of West Cairo, Riverside also lives up to its name by offering stunning views of the Nile at night.

Praised for serving some of the best Mediterranean dishes in town along with a wide variety of drinks, Sequoia doesn’t push crass marketing tactics, and instead relies on word of mouth to speak for itself.

Cairo Jazz Club is a champion of Cairo’s jazz scene. For over a decade, this club’s high energy and live music has made jazz-lovers out of Cairo’s locals, with emerging local artists and established musicians sharing the stage.

Located in Zamalek, Pub 28 maintains a classic British pub spirit. Rather than a fancy cocktail, this is the perfect place for a nice pint or whiskey on the rocks, and their sangria is also fantastic.

History

Prior to 19th century

1st century BCE - Babylon Fortress built (approximate date)..

4th-5th centuries CE - Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga) built.

6th century - Church of Saint Menas established.

642 - Mosque of Amr ibn al-As built.

879 - Mosque of Ibn Tulun built..

Church of St. George built (approximate date)..

Church of the Virgin Mary (Haret Zuweila) built (approximate date)..

970 : Misr al-Qahira settlement founded by Fatimid Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah. Al-Azhar University established.

972 - Al-Azhar Mosque established

978 -The Hanging Church rebuilt (approximate date)..

979 - Saint Mercurius Church in Coptic Cairo rebuilt (approximate date).

992 - Al-Hakim Mosque built..

11th century - Church of the Holy Virgin (Babylon El-Darag) built..

1016 - Lulua Mosque built..