The Fortress of Babylon is defined by its massive, alternating layers of limestone blocks and red bricks, forming thick walls that have survived for nearly two millennia. Located on the east bank of the Nile in what is now known as Coptic…
Coptic Cairo Historic Churches
The quiet, narrow stone alleys of Old Cairo's Christian quarter hold centuries-old churches, ancient crypts, and a historic synagogue.
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1. Fortress of Babylon
2. Hanging Church
The Hanging Church, or Al-Muallaqa, is defined by its nave, which rests directly above the southern gatehouse of the ancient Roman Babylon Fortress. You can identify the site by the twenty-nine steps that lead visitors up toward the…
3. Coptic Museum
The Coptic Museum is marked by a distinctive limestone facade, modeled after the twelfth-century Al-Aqmar Mosque, that sits nestled within the ancient Roman walls of the Babylon Fortress. As the home to the world’s largest collection of…
4. St. George's church
The Church of Saint George is immediately recognizable by its rare circular shape, a design that distinguishes it from the rectangular layouts of nearly every other church in Cairo. It stands atop a massive stone tower that once formed…
5. Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church
The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, often called Abu Serga, is an ancient Coptic basilica built directly atop the remains of the Roman Fortress of Babylon. Its roof, designed to resemble the hull of Noah’s Ark, sits above twelve…
6. Synagogue Ben Ezra
The Ben Ezra Synagogue is identifiable by its beige and white limestone facade, a modest structure tucked among the historic sites of Old Cairo. While it now operates as a museum, the building stands on ground traditionally linked to…
7. St Barbara Church
The Church of Saint Barbara sits about one hundred and forty centimeters below the current street level, requiring visitors to descend a stone ladder to enter. Located on the eastern side of the ancient Roman Babylon Fortress, this…