Due to its strategic location at the intersection of trade routes from Europe to East Africa and Asia, Egypt has become one of the most developed countries in Africa. Desert landscapes with magnificent pyramids, coral reefs and cozy beaches on the Red Sea attract annually many tourists from all over the world. Since ancient times, the center of Arab culture: literature, theology, painting, cinema and music - was Egypt.
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 regions were built only in the 19th and 20th centuries, therefore there are wide streets and a lot of open space. Old Cairo is located on the east bank of the Nile and has 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."
The modern capital of Egypt
The city of Cairo is the largest industrial center of the country of Egypt. The capital is rich in numerous factories of food, textile, chemical industries. Foundries and automobile plants 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 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 inspect it.
It houses the world's largest collection of artifacts of ancient Egypt. On the ground floor there are exclusive exhibits from the tombs of the pharaohs of the Ancient and Middle Kingdom. One of the most interesting is the collection of 1700 items from the tomb of young Tutankhamun. On November 4, 1922, the English archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the mastaba of a teenage pharaoh. This find is considered the greatest in history.
Tomb of the saint
The largest Muslim tomb in Egypt is in Cairo. This is the resting place of one of the most important figures of Islam - Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi. He was born in Gaza in 767 and was one of the most influential Muslim lawyers and theologians. After long trips to 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 then Sultan Al-Malik al-Kamil turned into a majestic mausoleum.
Kahwa Cairo
Egyptians are very fond of coffee (the name comes from the Arabic "kahwa"). This is an integral part of the life of the inhabitants 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 tray is a narrow copper table in front of the entrance, on which stands a kettle with water and a loud radio receiver. Women are not allowed to enter most of these cafes.
Information for drivers
Very safe and friendly in general can be called Egypt. Its capital is the largest city in Africa and 11th in the list of the most populated in the world. But the interesting thing is that there are practically no rules on the roads of Cairo. Drivers do not hesitate to ride on the oncoming or sidewalks, just to shorten the route. Buses rarely stop at designated stops: usually passengers jump right on the go.