Cairo/Alexandria

Travel back to time by visiting the medieval district of Cairo. Start your day with a prodigious sample of Ottoman architecture, the Alabaster mosque. Constructed by Muhammad Ali Pasha between 1830 and 1848 as a tribute to his oldest son who died in 1816, the Alabaster mosque is mostly made of limestone which plausibly comes from the Pyramids of Giza. Visit one of the most beautiful and impressive historic construction of the Mamluk epoch, Sultan Hassan Mosque. It’s an Islamic complex composed of a mosque and a madrassa where the 4 Islamic schools of thought used to be taught. Proceed to the Coptic part of the city and pay attention to Ben Ezra Synagogue. Famous for its Geniza, this temple is believed to have been built where Moses was found by Pharaoh’s daughter when he was a baby. Hanged above the gate of the old Babylone Fortress, the Hanging church seeks to be admired. Proceed inside this holy edifice and examine the 13 pillars the whole nave stands on. Stroll along El Moez street and admire the beautiful buildings, madrassas (Koran schools), mosques, and traditional houses. You might visit one of them, Bayt El Suheymi. Then, make your way through the streets of Khan El Khalili. Built in the 14th century this souk is still the first choice for all locals who want to buy gold. Spices, gold, soap, handmade souvenirs. You will be escorted back to your hotel overnight.

After your breakfast, take a sit in an air-conditioned vehicle to Alexandria. Venture into the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. Mixing the best of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman funerary art, this roman necropolis was one of the seven wonders of the medieval world. Nowadays, you can still admire the set of tombs, statues, and archaeological items. Nearby, you can’t miss the monumental Pompey Pillar. Contrary to what its name suggests, this pillar has nothing to do with the famous Roman general Pompey! The pillar was actually erected in the glory of the emperor Diocletian in 291. Made of one whole piece of Aswan’s red granite, the Pompey pillar reaches a height of 26.85 m. This impressive structure is located on the ruins of the temple of Serapis, the Egyptian-Greek god, and protector of Alexandria. Next to the Pillar, you can admire a sphinx built in honour of Serapis. Your journey leads you now to Saint Catherine Church. Facing the religious building, examine the details of its neo-baroque architecture. Once you get inside, you will be amazed by the way the sunlight enters the building and highlights its magnificence. According to Christian tradition, Saint Catherine was a princess and a scholar who became Christian at the age of 14 and converted with her hundreds of pagans. After being tortured and imprisoned, she was finally executed by emperor Maxentius and as a result, became a martyr. Visit Alexandria National Museum. Hinging on three main collections, this museum tells the history of the ancient cosmopolitan city. Visit the Modern Alexandria Library (visit its open court + the museum which includes a lot of pieces of the ancient Biblioteca ), It was built in the same location as the Biblioteca and you are going to watch many pieces and rooms from the ancient Biblioteca. Discover Qaitbay Citadel, a legacy of the Mamluk Dynasty built on the vestige of what used to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the lighthouse of Alexandria. Erected in 1477 by Sultan Ashram Sayf El-Din Quit Bay the citadel is a perfect example of the Mamluk military architecture. It was specially constructed to protect Alexandria from the invasion of the Ottoman Empire. End your day in the corniche, with a walk on Stanley Bridge from which you can enjoy an incomparable view of the sea. At night the bridge is beautifully enlightened, making spark the water it overhangs.