CAIRO 30.0444° N, 31.2357° E
Egypt's bustling capital is a treasure
trove of ancient history, and those
who linger are rewarded with a
sensory journey through time like
no other.
With a population of more than 19 million, Cairo
is one of Africa's largest cities. Situated between
the Middle East, Africa and Europe, it has been
the epicenter of political and cultural upheaval for
centuries, with each new influence leaving its mark.
Duck away from well-known sites, and you will soon
find yourself weaving down narrow alleyways and
through ancient gates to find Coptic churches and
hidden palaces. Or take to the Nile the traditional
way on a felucca—an Egyptian wooden sailboat—
and watch Cairo drift by at a gentle pace.
Known as the "City of a Thousand Minarets," Cairo
is bursting at the seams with Islamic architecture.
Nowhere is this more in evidence than the medieval
Islamic quarter, where mosques and madrassas
represent Islamic culture from around 900 AD to the
present day.
Go online: Visit viking.com for more
information on cruises that go to Cairo
48 HOURS IN EGYPT
Cairo
70
VIKING
