Thanks to its strategic location at the crossroads of trade routes from Europe to East Africa and Asia, Egypt has become one of the most developed countries in Africa. Desert landscapes with majestic pyramids, coral reefs and cozy beaches on the Red Sea attract many tourists every year from all over the world. Since ancient times, Egypt has been the center of Arab culture: literature, theology, painting, cinema and music.
The capital of the country is Cairo. It is located near the place where the Nile forms its delta. The city was founded in the 2nd century AD, but its western districts were built only in the 19th and 20th centuries, so there are wide streets and a lot of open space. Old Cairo is located on the east bank of the Nile and features dense architecture.
The first capital of Egypt - Memphis
The city has long been the administrative and cultural center of the country. Now Memphis is under silt, archaeological excavations are still ongoing. The place where the city once stood is called the "open air museum".
Modern capital of Egypt
The city of Cairo is the largest industrialcenter of Egypt. The capital is rich in numerous food, textile and chemical industries. Foundries and car factories are also located here. In the suburbs of Cairo are large oil refineries that Egypt is proud of. The capital is also the financial center of the country and an important transportation hub. Tourism is an important sector of the state's economy.
Egyptian Museum
Founded in 1835, the Egyptian Museum is so large that even if you spend one minute near each exhibit, it will take about nine months to explore it.
Here is the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. On the first floor there are exclusive exhibits from the tombs of the pharaohs of the Ancient and Middle Kingdoms. One of the most interesting is a collection of 1700 items from the tomb of the young Tutankhamen. On November 4, 1922, English archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the mastaba of a teenage pharaoh. This discovery is considered the greatest in history.
Saint's tomb
The largest Muslim tomb in Egypt is located in Cairo. This is the resting place of one of the most important figures of Islam - Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi'i. He was born in 767 in Gaza and was one of the most influential Muslim jurists and theologians. After long travels in the Middle East, he settled in Egypt, where he established a system for describing the origin of Islamic laws. Almost 500 years after his death, Sultan Saladin erected a madrasah on his grave, which Sultan Al-Malik al-Kamil then turned into a majesticmausoleum.
Kahwa of Cairo
Egyptians are very fond of coffee (the name comes from the Arabic "qahwa"). This is an integral part of the life of the inhabitants of the country of Egypt. The capital is rich in cafes that are more than 200 years old, but they do not resemble, say, the same old Viennese establishments. The only element that distinguishes them from the market stall is a narrow copper table in front of the entrance, on which stands a kettle of water and a loudly playing radio. Women are not allowed to enter most of these cafes.
Information for drivers
Egypt can be called very safe and friendly in general. Its capital is the largest city in Africa and the 11th most populated in the world. But what is interesting is that there are practically no rules on the roads of Cairo. Drivers do not hesitate to drive on the opposite side or on the sidewalks, just to shorten the route. Buses rarely stop at designated stops: passengers usually jump out on the move.
