Cairo

As one of the world's most ancient cities. Cairo has layers of history. At the intersection of endless desert and some of the most vital trading routes, Cairo has taken advantage of its prime location. Memphis, built on the banks of the Nile long before the Silk Road networks were established, was for centuries upon centuries the world's greatest city. It later was buried under the Saharan sands, and so did this city's influence in the region. Thebes further south and then Alexandria further north on the Mediterranean took center stage. Cairo still played a role though, notably the Roman fortress of Babylon and the early Islamic city of Fustat, but it wasn't until the Fatimid city of Al-Qahira, from which it derives its name, a golden age commenced.

Cairo became the cultural heart of the Arab world, where architectural masterpieces can be seen in the Citadel of Salah al-Din towering over the city, and the Ibn Tulun Mosque, a quiet respite from the noise. The narrow, winding alleys of Islamic Cairo, and the bustling souks like Khan el-Khalili, which have been a center of commerce for centuries, still retain their medieval charm even to this day. The sheer scale and energy of Cairo can be a shock to first-time, or even tenth-time, visitors, but for those who embrace its chaos, the city reveals a slice of life that seems lost for many of the world's large cities. Here you can go from the simple pleasure of sipping tea at a cafe to the profound experience of standing before the Giza Pyramids on its outskirts.