About Cairo
Cairo
Cairo is the capital city of Egypt and it hosts around 16 million people. Cairo, the city of the “1000 minarets” is situated on the Nile, the longest river of the world. This cultural centre of the Arabic language will surely be very interesting for those visitors interested in discovering the Arabic world and culture: Cairo has many marvelous mosques, towers and interesting historical places. Obviously, Egypt reminds us of the ancient Egyptians and their civilization: the Giza plateau, with its Pyramids and the Sphinx is just a few kilometers outside of Cairo. On one hand Cairo is one of the most known Islamic cities, on the other hand it is very cosmopolitan and offers a wide range of clubs and restaurants.
Cairo is the capital city of Egypt and the largest and most populous city in Africa. It is located on both banks of the famous River, the Nile; near the beginning of the river’s delta in the northern part of Egypt. It has been inhabited for more than six millennia and has functioned as the capital of many Egyptian civilizations. Cairo is visibly influenced by the traditions and cultures of the East and the West, but also by the ancient and the modern cultures.
Cairo is the region’s major administrative, commercial and touristic center. It is in constant activity, being the site of numerous government offices, business establishments, universities, cultural institutions and hotels. The center of downtown Cairo is the Tahrīr Square on the east bank. It is a center of tourist activity and it contains many attractions such as the Arab League Headquarters, the modern Umar Makram Mosque and the Egyptian Museum which houses the world’s largest collection of artifacts from ancient Egypt. Stretching from north to south of the east bank is Cairo’s main road Al Kūrnīsh or the Corniche, and located nearby is a narrow strip of land which is one of the city’s newer residential areas, the Garden City. The upscale commercial and residential neighborhood Zamālik, the Cairo Tower and the Cairo Opera House can be found at the river island Zamālik also known as Jazīrah or the Island, in the center of the city.
The city of Cairo is Egypt’s main industrial and commercial center. Local industries produce cotton textiles, construction supplies, food products, chemical fertilizers, aircraft, and motor vehicles. Cairo’s warm climate and many historical and cultural sights contribute to the tourism industry which plays a significant role in its economy. The city is also the core for government activities as well as service industries. Commodities that arrive in Cairo are shipped on the Nile and are received at the port of Būlāq in the northern end of the city. Cairo exports its products by railroad, road and waterway to Mediterranean ports of Port Said and Alexandria. Cairo is connected to other major cities by train service. The city is a vital center for publishing and other forms of media which exert influence within the Islamic world such as Radio Cairo and the newspapers Al Ahram and Al Akhbar.
Education in Cairo is given high importance. It is the site of the oldest Islamic university in the world the Al-Azhar University which is more than a thousand years old. It is has the highest concentration of schools and higher education institutes in Egypt. Education is compulsory and free in Cairo’s public schools and universities. There are also a lot of foreign students that come to Cairo to study the Arabic language. Health in Cairo is also of great significance since it has been established as Egypt’s main center for medical treatment and has the most advanced medical care in the country.
Cairo cuisine is composed of the Egyptian favorites Ful Medames or mashed fava beans; Kushari which is composed of a base of chickpeas, macaroni, rice, black lentils and topped with spicy tomato sauce and Egyptian garlic and vinegar, and deep fried onions; and Molokhia, a vegetable which has been a staple food of the Egyptians since the time of the pharaohs. Since most of Cairo’s population is Muslim, pork is not part of its meat dishes. Varieties of beef, lamb and chicken are used instead.
Cairo is an appealing place to visit with a wonderful combination of its ancient past and its flourishing present, and its traditional and cosmopolitan way of life. Visit Cairo now and be charmed by its timeless beauty!
