Feel the relaxation of your soul when you go to Old Coptic Cairo. Be blessed when you step into the place where Virgin Mary and baby Jesus were hiding away from King Herod.
It is a very sacred and holy area as it contains 14 churches and a Jewish synagogue. The tour starts with the ruins of the Babylon Fortress. The fort dates back to the 1st century A.D and it consists of three main towers. One of them is still in situ. Go for a visit to the Hanging Church, one of the most beautiful churches that were built in the 5th century. Consecrated to Virgin Mary, The church was built above one of the towers of the fort of Babylon. It has 110 beautiful icons and once was the seat of the Patriarch in the 14th century. Your guide will explain to you all about the church and its beautiful ceiling, screens of the altars, pulpit, and all of its basic components.
After this impressive visit, move to the Cavern church or the church of St Sergius and Bacchus. Thousands of visitors come annually to this church to visit the cave where Jesus the baby and Virgin Mary were hiding for 3 months. They stayed there during the journey of escape in Egypt. Go downstairs and make your wishes in the same place where the baby used to sleep and the mother used to stay and pray. Upstairs, look at the water well from which the holy family drank. The religious tolerance in Egypt is embodied by your visit to the oldest Jewish temple in Cairo. Ben Ezra temple is one among the other 11 synagogues in Egypt and is named after a merchant from Jerusalem called Ben Ezra. You will be given the full history of the synagogue and the history, customs, and traditions of the Jewish community in Egypt.
The next stop will be to the citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster mosque. Drive to the old section of Cairo where you will pass by the highest mountain in Cairo. The fort of Saladin was built on a cliff of this mount for protecting the city against the Crusaders.
In 1830 Mohamed Ali, the king of Egypt ordered to build of the Alabaster Mosque inside the citadel. You will go inside the mosque to see its main components and learn about the Islamic pillars. Aside from its huge size and exquisite beauty, one of the beautiful elements of this mosque is that it has two identical slim minarets, top-covered with lead as the mosque domes and semi-domes. Enjoy the panoramic view of the city from the mosque, where you can see the Giza pyramids on clear days.
Another beautiful mosque is worth visiting, the mosque of Ibn Tulun(866-869) is well-preserved with a unique tower. Visit the Gayer Anderson museum inside the walls of the mosque. When the tour is over, you will be transferred to your cruise ship at the port of Alexandria.
