"The Heart of Egypt" a Cairo Travel Page by JohnniOmani

Cairo is a lot of fun if you are open minded and dont mind huge tourist crowds. The city has a lot to offer and demands at least 3 days to cover all the sites. It is also a very easy city to navigate due to the suprisingly clean Metro System. Cairo has it all and most people either love or hate this city. The national museum is incredible and the mummy exhibition was brilliant. The main souq is madness but fun. The pyramids are great but due to the shops etc close by the atmosphere is not what most people believe it to be. Islamic Cairo is my personal favorite and due to lack of tourists in the area meeting locals is possible. Overall, Cairo is a must for any trip to Egypt.

The term Islamic Cairo refers to the area of the city that is dominated by minarets. The presence of minarets on the skyline gives the impression of piety. The best place to start exploring the area is the Khan al Khalili area. Islamic Cairo has enough sites to keep you busy for months. The souq, Al Azhar mosque/university, old gates,Mosque of al Mu'ayyad, madrassas, citadel not to mention the mosque of ibn Tulun. With its winding alley ways, ancient history and everyday buzz Islamic Cairo is not to be missed.

Before diving into the baazar, it is worth taking time out to visit one of Cairo's earliest mosques, but also one of the world's oldest surviving universities.Located in El Hussein Square, the Al-Azhar Mosque (the most blooming) was established in 972 (361 H). Located in the center of an area filled with the most beautiful Islamic monuments from the 10th century, it was called "Al-Azhar" after Fatama al-Zahraa, daughter of the Prophet Mohamed.While ten thousand students once studied here, today the university classes are held in adjacent buildings and the Mosque is reserved for prayer. In addition to the religious studies, modern schools of medicine, science and foreign languages have also been added.