Cairo

Cairo is one of the most culturally and civilizationally diverse cities, having witnessed many different historical eras throughout the ages. It boasts numerous ancient and modern landmarks, transforming it into an open museum housing Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Coptic, and Islamic antiquities. The city’s history dates back to the founding of the Pharaonic city of On, or Heliopolis (currently Ain Shams), one of the oldest cities in the ancient world. Cairo’s current style dates back to the Islamic conquest of Egypt by Amr ibn al-As in 641 AD, and his establishment of the city of Fustat. The Abbasids then established the city of al-Askar, followed by Ahmad ibn Tulun’s construction of the city of al-Qata’i. With the Fatimids entering Egypt from Ifriqiya (present-day Tunisia), Commander Jawhar al-Siqilli began building the new capital of the Fatimid state by order of the Fatimid Caliph al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah in 969 AD. The Caliph named it “Cairo.” Cairo has been called many names throughout the ages, including the City of a Thousand Minarets, Egypt the Protected, and Al-Mu’izz’s Cairo. During the Islamic era, Cairo witnessed the finest architectural arts, represented by the construction of castles, fortresses, walls, schools, and mosques, giving it an aesthetic touch that remains present in its old neighborhoods to this day.