The name “Cairo” is said to be derived from the Arabic Al-Qahira, the victorious. According to legend, the planet Kahir – or Mars – was visible on the night of the foundation of the city. Cairo has two nuclei, the original area of settlement of the Arabs in the south west now called Misr El-Qadimah (Old Cairo), the older areas with their traditional tenements surrounding a central courtyard, and the later enclosed town of Al-Qahirah.

Cairo, a fascinating city,holds something for everyone. It is a colorful mosaic of four distinct cultures; Pharaonic, Coptic Christian, Islamic and Modern.