The Fortress of Babylon sits behind a high, curved wall of layered limestone and brick, distinct from the surrounding city for its massive, circular towers. This Roman stronghold anchored the Nile frontier in the second century,…
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 rests upon the southern gatehouse of the Roman fortress of Babylon, its nave suspended over a deep, dark passage that once served as the main entrance to the Roman citadel. This structure, dedicated to the Virgin Mary,…
3. Coptic Museum
The Coptic Museum houses a limestone facade salvaged from older buildings, covered in intricately carved geometric patterns and floral motifs. It sits inside the walls of the ancient Roman fortress of Babylon, protecting the world’s…
4. St. George's church
The circular form of the Saint George Church distinguishes it from the surrounding stone fortress walls of Babylon. Built directly atop the massive Roman tower that once guarded the southern entrance to Cairo, the church anchors itself in…
5. Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church
The Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus sits atop a foundation of heavy, ancient limestone blocks that local tradition identifies as the sanctuary where the Holy Family hid during their flight into Egypt. Its interior features twelve…
6. Synagogue Ben Ezra
The Ben Ezra Synagogue holds a wooden bimah that sits beneath a ceiling painted with intricate, geometric floral patterns. This building served as a place of worship for centuries, but it achieved its fame through a storeroom hidden behind…
7. St Barbara Church
St. Barbara Church sits behind a modest, unassuming facade of brown brick and limestone, tucked deep within the Coptic Quarter. Inside, the interior reveals a rare survival from the fifth century, structured with the distinct…