Cairo

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the city-state Cairo Governorate, and is the country’s largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metropolitan area, with a population of 21.9 million, is the 12th-largest in the world by population.

Cairo is associated with ancient Egypt, the area around present-day Cairo had long been a focal point of Ancient Egypt due to its strategic location at the junction of the Nile Valley and the Nile Delta regions (roughly Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt), which also placed it at the crossing of major routes between North Africa and the Levant. Memphis, the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom and a major city up until the Ptolemaic period, was located a short distance southwest of present-day Cairo. Heliopolis, another important city and major religious center, was located in what are now the modern districts of Matariya and Ain Shams in northeastern Cairo. It was largely destroyed by the Persian invasions in 525 BC and 343 BC and partly abandoned by the late first century BC. Cairo is a vibrant metropolis where ancient and modern coexist.

Immerse yourself in the rich history at the Egyptian Museum. Bustling markets, historic mosques, and the lively atmosphere make Cairo an exhilarating destination.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo, located in Cairo, Egypt’s houses the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world. It houses over 120,000 items, with a representative amount on display. Located in a building built in 1901, it is the largest museum in Africa. Among its masterpieces are Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s treasure, including its iconic gold burial mask, widely considered one of the best-known works of art in the world and a prominent symbol of ancient Egypt.

The Baron Empain Palace is a distinctive and historic Hindu temple inspired mansion in Heliopolis, a suburb northeast of central Cairo, Egypt. It was founded by Edward Louis Joseph Empain, a Belgian businessman who was awarded the title of “Baron” by the King of Belgium due to his contribution to the Paris Metro and tramway lines connecting Belgium, Northern France, and Holland.