Arab African Tours

Egypt Today - Monuments

Most of the Egyptian monuments are from the pharaonic era, but are also complemented by expressions of other cultures. Colossi and Sphinxes exist alongside amphitheatres, temples and Greco-Roman columns.

The Great Sphinx (Giza)

Standing guard at the hallowed entrance to the Great Pyramids of Giza, the human-headed, lion-bodied Sphinx is the oldest of all Egypt's superhuman stone sculptures. It is also the most instantly recognizable. Originally hewn from a gigantic piece of limestone .Though named by the Greeks after their riddle-loving mythological character, the Sphinx was actually built by the Pharaoh Chephren in his own image.

The Valley of the Kings (Thebes)

Inconspicuous and unassuming, the Valley of the Kings hides its secrets well. The grand pyramids of the earlier pharaohs proved too tempting to grave robbers, so from the eighteenth to twentieth Dynasties, 26 pharaohs opted to build their tombs in the valley. Carving them deep into the mountains, far from reach, Tutankhamen, Ramses the Great and Tuthmosis III's tombs lie in this single, sprawling necropolis. There are interesting tombs to see in the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Nobles as well.

Colossi of Memnon (Luxor)

These are the first ruins visible when arriving by ferry. They are the sole surviving remains of the funerary temple of Amenhotep III which, according to recent discoveries, was vaster than the complex of Karnak.

Monuments of the Graeco-Roman era

From Alexander the Great's grand entrance in 332 BC to Cleopatra's tragic exit when she committed suicide in 30 BC, the Greeks thrust Egypt centre stage during their three-and-a-half century reign under the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Roman Amphitheatre in Alexandria

The Roman Amphitheatre was found buried, quite literally, under a pile of rubble ˜Kom-el-Dikkah'. Unearthed beneath a Napoleonic era fort, it's the only known example of a typically circular Roman theatre in all of Egypt.

Pompey's Pillar

Majestic but solitary, Pompey's Pillar is a 25 meter column of solid red granite, from the bottom of its Greek inscribed base to the top of its Romanesque capital. Surprisingly, Pompey's Pillar has nothing to do with its namesake. It was built in honour of the Emperor Diocletian in 292 AD.

The Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa

Hewn in the bedrock of the mountains in the second century, Kom ash-Shuqqafa is the largest burial place in Egypt with three underground storey’s that accommodate over 300 bodies. The lowest level is now submerged, but a spiraling staircase descends to the first two levels, complete with banqueting hall (triclinium) for funerary feasts, and the principal tomb with its eclectic clash of Egyptian, Greek and Roman symbolism.

Christian Monuments

Christian monuments in Egypt have a religious and historic significance. They are regarded as a transitional period between Pharaonic and Islamic art, the Coptic museum houses a rare collection of antiquities. Old Cairo is renowned for its antique churches.

Al Moallaqa ( The Suspended Church)

Built on the remains of the Roman fortress of Babylon. At the turn of the fourth century. Wooden carving representing Jesus Christ entering Jerusalem. It houses about ninety rare icons of basilican style.

Abu Serga Church

It dates back to the 4 th century A.D. It was used as a shelter by the Holy Family during their flight from king Herod.

Saint Barbara Church

Dates back to the early 5 th century A.D. It lies in the eastern eastern section of the fortress of Babylon. It is considered one of the most beautiful Coptic churches of the basilican style and is remarkable for its wooden door, a masterpiece of art, its iconstasis is decorated with precise inscriptions of sycamore wood which consists of 45 panels.

Greek Orthodox Church Mari Guirgis

Built on one of the towers of Babylon Fortress. This basilica has a round structure with a domed roof.

Saint Mark Cathedral

The largest cathedral in Africa, recently built in Abbassiya district. The relics of saint Mark, the Evangelist who first preached Chritianity in Egypt , are kept in this cathedral.

The virgin tree in Materia

The holy family rested next to the blessing tree, the tree is two thousands years old and is evergreen.

Churches of Abu Seifien Monastery
	Located in Amr Mosque Street, near the Metro station ( Mar Guirgis ). It comprises three churches : - Anba Shenouda Church. – Abu Seifein Church: -Anba Shenouda church. - Abu Seifein church (saint Marcurius), which contains the cave of Saint Barsoum El-Erian. - The church of the virgin in El-Damshirya.

Islamic Monuments

Artistic beauty of Islamic monuments is not limited to mosques only but also houses and places side by side with fortress and other architectural constructions.

Mosque of Amr Ibn El-Aas

It is the first mosque built in Egypt and Africa, Founded in 642 A.D. by Amr Ibn El-Aas. It represents schools of architecture from different periods.

Mosque of Ibn Tulun

Built between 876 and 879 A.D. it is one of the oldest intact mosques in Cairo, characterized by its unique minaret. It is still in use nowadays.
Nextdoor is Gayer Anderson House, (El-Kretleya), it is an Ottoman-style residence for a British officer, restored and furnished in that period style and boasts his collection of Islamic art.

Al-Nasser,Al-Mansour Qalawun and Sultan Barquq complex

A medival complex of mosques, mausoleums and madrassas (schools) built by three Mamluke Sultan.

The citadel of saladin(Salah El-Din)

Built between 1176 and 1182 A.D. It provides a panromic view of Cairo from Al-Moqattam Hill “…The living world spread out close beneath one’s feet..” the Citadel complex includes the Albaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali, “Al Gawhara Palace”, the Military Museum and the citadel outdoor Theatre.

Mosque and Madrassa sultan Hassan

A masterpiece of Mamluke architecture, it includes bronze doors inlaid with gold, silver and marble panels.
It has the gloritist entrance of the Islamic monuments in Egypt, it is located on Salah El-din square in El-Qalla’a area.

Blue Mosque (The Aqsunqur Mosque)

The Blue Mosque gets its name from its most spectacular feature, a blue mosaic of majolica tiles that cover the eastern wall. The Blue Mosque is a Mamluks monument, commissioned by Prince Aqsunqur al-Nassery in 1347. It's also renowned for its unorthodox 4 storey minaret, its magnificent marble mihrab, and its vine leaf and grape patterned Minbar (pulpit).

Al-Azhar Mosque
	The first Fatimid mosque and the oldest Islamic university in the world, founded in 878 A.D. El-hussein Mosque: It was established in 549 A.H.- 1154 A.D. during the reign of the fatmid Caliph El-Zaheir Beamr Allah, it was renewed many times. These are not all the mosques, but there are many other mosques in different palaces and cities such as: Sayeda Zainab mosque and Sayeda Nafessa mosque