Downtown Cairo

Downtown Cairo History of Downtown and Who Built it? Commissioned by Khedival Ismail Downtown Cairo has been the Urban Heart of Cairo, Egypt, since the late Nineteenth Century, and it is said that Khedive Ismail when on a visit to Europe was inspired about building, especially devoted to the Western Civilization and it’s architecture, and his dream was to make Cairo a piece of Paris and make it into an appealing and charismatic City. The Author Artimis Cooper who wrote the Book Cairo in the Second World War 1939-1945 which was translated by Mohamed Al-Khouli said that shops overlooked the Street through Facades to advertise Products and vast Banners written in French or Arabic, in addition to Banks, Cafes and Bars Adly Pasha Street was very similar to St. James Street in London, which shows that Ismail had already triumped in making the Street of Downtown Cairo a little part of Europe. The Egypian People indicate to Downtown as Wust al-Balad, which when translated can be understood to mean the Heart of the Country, which this exciting and crowded District of Cairo most definitely lives up to the name. Not only is it the physical Centre of Cairo, but also a core for Business, Culture, Transportation which is centred on Midan Talaat Harb and Midan Tahrir. Constructed in the 1880s Downtown was a part of Khedive Ismail’s vast building project to Modernize Cairo and other Egyptian Cities. The target of Khedive was to make it similar to a European City, so he started to do this by employing European archetects to design a whole New Section of the City, which would consist of Wide Boulevards and architecture that reminds People of Paris during the same Era. If you can put up with the Traffic that dominates Downtown today it is an interesting Place to walk through, full of relics of the grandour of Cairo a Century ago. As well as many marginally known locations there are several famous Sites to visit in Downtown that are still worth a visit owing to their Historical importance to the Cosmopolitan Culture that thrived here in the middle of the Twentieth Century. Highlights.. Museum of Islamic Art… Located on the border between Downtown and Old Cairo this Museum is not that well known, this being due to it being recently closed for renovations over ten Years, however it houses a well arranged Collection of Artwork and archetectual features from the Era after Islam entered into Egypt 641 AD. The Egyptian Museum… You just have to take a visit to the Egyptian Museum during your time in Cairo, hosting so many artifacts from Ancient Egypt plus many from the more recent Greco-Roman Period in the History of Egypt. The Museum is Located in Tahrir Square. Interesting Stops, Food and Drink. Midan Falaky.. The Square and backdrop area, East of Midan Tahrir and South of Midan Talaat Harb, consists of many lively Coffee Shops and classic architecture. This really is a fantastic Place to sit and relax in a Café and view the Cairo Life. Why not enjoy some Shisha, plus a game of Backgammon which translates into Taoula in Arabic, have a cold Beer or a Coffee in the Café Horreya which is Located in Midan Falaky, which is a lively Place to visit in the Night. Borsa.. This is a Pedestrian Area which is Located a couple of Blocks Northeast of Midan Talaat Harb between Kasr Al Nil Street which contains many Outdoor Cafes that are popular among young Cairenes , plus it is another opportunity to sit Outside and take in Cairo’s Street Life during the Day or Night. Townhouse Gallery and Theatre … This is a flourishing Art Gallery and performance Space which hosts regular Movie Screenings, Art Exhibits and Art Performances . Located off of Mahmoud Bassiouni Street which runs Northwest from Midan Talaat Harb. Café Riche…. This is a Restaurant which hosted the Literary and interlectual elite of Cairo in the Middle of the Twentieth Century. In the present day it is a Café which serves Beer, and good food on Talaat Harb Street which is before you reach the Midan, but the classic atmosphere you will find is inside. Café Horreya…. Being one of the few Cafes that sell Beer, it is one of the Centres of Nightlife Downtown. Which hosts an array of Egyptian and also Foreign Clients. It is not overly Clean and tends to get very loud and smokey, however it is a Standard of Downtown Cairo Nightlife, Located in Midan Falaky. Felfela…. This Restaurant which is in Talaat Harb Street serves delicious Egyptian food inside, but also includes a fast food Section where you can obtain a quick Sandwich which is also delicious.