Must see cities and sites in Egypt
4 April 2008
Egypt is famous for its antiquities and temples scattered around the country. So here is a list of those you could include in your itinerary:
Luxor: Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, the Mummification Museum, Luxor Museum, The Corniche and the Winter Palace Hotel.
The West Bank: Thebes, The Valley of the Kings, The Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon
Esna: Temple of Khnum
Edfu: Temple of Horus
Kom Ombo: Temple of Kom Ombo
Philae: Temple of Philae
Aswan: Old Cataract Hotel, Nubian Museum, Unfinished Obelisk, Elephantine island, Kitchener's Island, Aga Khan Mausoleum and the Aswan Dam
Cairo: Giza Pyramids
Abu Simbel: The Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Queen Nefertari.
EGYPTIAN CITIES
Cairo
Founded on the site of Babylon near the ruins of ancient Memphis, Cairo has been the largest city in Africa for centuries. Modern Cairo encompases many former cities and their monuments: the pyramids, the Sphinx, early Christian monasteries and churches, Salah Al-Din Citadel and mosques of the Mamluke and Otoman sultans.
Old Cairo is home to historic monuments such as the Ben Ezra synagoge, the oldest church and the oldest mosque in Africa. Recently a Souq El-Fustat (a market) and the Pottery Centre has developed and sells handicrafts, textiles, ceramics, glass, potter, traditional crafts and wooden product. It comprises 47 bazaars for local artisans, craftsmen and designers.
Alexandria
Alexandria, the setting for the stormy love affair of Cleopatra and Marc Athony, is the second largest city in Egypt. It's located on the Mediterranean Sea Coast to the north west of Delta. It was named after Alexander the Great who founded the cityin 331BC on the site of Rhakotis. The city was described by Lawrenc Durrell as "the capital city f Asiatic Europe, if such a thing could exist." Certainly it was once the centre of knowledge in the ancient world.
Today's visitors can enjoy locally caught seafood, take a tram to view Roman ruins or drink coffe in European-style coffe shops. Alex, as it is endearingly called, is located on the seafrong and its coast runs along the Mediterranean for 20km. A walk along the magnificent Corniche sweeps around the curve of the Eastern harbour which leads downtown.
Luxor
Luxor has so many monuments, probably more than anywhere else in the world, that it has been dubbed as the world's greatest open air museum.
It was the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom (1567-1085 BC). It was called Wasset then which means 'mace' to convey the supreme authority the city weilded. Later it was changed to Thebes. Recently it has been called Al-Ogsor which means "the City of Palaces".
Luxor can be divided into three disctinct regions: City of Luxor on the east bank of the Nile where you will find the Cit of Living , the town of Karnak just north of Luxor and Thebes on the west side of the Nile where the City of the Dead, the Tombs of the Nobles, the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and Hatshepsut's temple can be seen.
Tourism has thrived here since the dawn of tourism even in ancient times, during the Green and Roman periods. Today as you walk through the streets you pass statues of the heads of gods and animals, pillars carved with lotus and payrus buds and ride on horse-drawn carriages, sail in a felucca and take a sunset cruise.
Aswan
Aswan is Egypt's sunniest southern city and has a distinctivley African atmosphere. It is a compact city and you can enjoy it on foot. Stoll along the Corniche watching the tall masted sailboats or dine out on floating restaurants while enjoying Nubian music. The Nile is at its most beautiful here. It flows through amber desert and granite rocks and around palm rich emerald islands. The souk (market) is colourful, aromatic and lively thanks to colourful spices, perfumes, scarves and a lovely way to spend the afternoon and some money.