Guided Tour of the Coptic Neighborhood

The Coptic neighborhood of Cairo, the Christian part of the Egyptian capital, plays host to a great historic and monumental heritage. Discover it with this guided tour.

Description

Having picked you up at your hotel, we make our way to Cairo's Coptic neighborhood, where we'll learn about the history of Christianity in Egypt and the differences between Coptic Catholics and Coptic Orthodox Christians. Both religious strands have their own temple, both of which we'll visit on our tour.

First we'll head to the church of Saint Maria the Virgin, also known as The Hanging Church of Cairo, constructed above the old gates of the Babylon fortress. Inside, we'll see various works of art and mosaics from different historical periods.

Our tour continues with the Church of St. George, the Orthodox church, and the church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, where legend states the holy family hid from King Herod.

To complete our knowledge of the Coptic tradition in Cairo, we'll visit the Cairo Coptic Museum, whose permanent exhibition houses a range of sacred and decorative objects, including the famous Nag Hammadi Manuscripts, known as the "Gospel of Judas," which has caused controversy among theologians.

After the museum visit, we'll have lunch in a traditional restaurant in the Coptic neighborhood, featuring various specialties, including a main dish of meat and rice. Following lunch, we'll return to the hotel.