CategoriesSightseeing By 0iwmp

Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis

Baron Empain Palace is the most famous landmark of Heliopolis, the city of the sun. This palace suffered from neglect for many years until the Ministry of Antiquities bought, received it from its owners, and began to restore it in 2007. The restoration work finished, and the palace is opened on Jun 29, 2020.

But before talking about this great palace, we should first talk about the owner or the founder of it, Baron Edward Empain. 

Let me introduce Baron Edward Empain to you.  He was a Belgian engineer and businessman. Empain is not a part of his name. It is a title. Baron Edward was awarded this title by the king of France due to his efforts in the establishment of the Paris metro. 

Baron Edward Empain - Egypt Vacation Tours
Baron Edward Empain

He came to Egypt in 1894 and adored it, so he decided to stay in it and asked the Egyptian government to build a new city in the desert, It became Heliopolis city. He founded this whole city with the help of Ernst Jasper, the Belgian architect. Additionally, he built the first tram in Cairo to connect between Cairo city and Heliopolis.

The tram - Egypt Vacation Tours
The tram

Baron Empain died on July 22, 1929, in Belgium, though was buried in Egypt in Basilica Church as he willed. 

Now, let’s go to visit Baron Empain Palace

Baron Edward Empain got help from Alexandre Marcel, the French engineer, in the construction of this palace. 

The first thing you will see is its amazing garden. It fills with several statues taking the Indian and Cambodian style. This garden houses the building founded by the reinforced concrete structure that was a new thing in Egypt at that time. 

Let go inside the palace.

The palace consists of four floors: 

 – The basement

 – The first floor contains three rooms. The middle one is decorated with the Indian and Cambodian style, but another two rooms are decorated with the European style. 

 – The second floor contains four bedrooms, including bathrooms. 

 – The roof was used in holding the concerts and parties. 

Now is the time for legends

It is said that this palace has a legend in every corner of it

– One of the stories says that the palace tower rotates to offer a 360-degree view of the surrounding area to follow the sun.

– Baron Edward Empain used magical tricks during the construction of the palace. 

– Baron Edward Empain killed Alexandre Marcel and buried his corpse in the garden of the palace.

All of these stories and more link with this palace due to the neglect it suffered for many years.

Enjoy discovering this unique landmark with Egypt Vacation Tours day tours. 

CategoriesMuseums By 0iwmp

The GEM – The Fourth Pyramid in Giza Plateau

Only a few steps away from the pyramids, the grandchildren come to repeat the glory of their grandfathers by building a new destination, the Grand Egyptian Museum (the GEM), linking between the past and the present.

The Grand Egyptian Museum is established on approximately 500,000 square meters. It takes a conical shape. This design was chosen in an architectural competition on the 2nd of June 2003. This competition includes 1557 contestants from 82 countries around the world, which made it considered the second largest architectural competition in history. The design of Heneghan Peng Company from Dublin, Ireland, is chosen in this competition due to its matching the surrounding archaeological area.

The Grand Egyptian Museum - The GEM - Egypt Vacation Tours 1
The Grand Egyptian Museum

Let’s go in a tour inside the GEM The GEM will be the largest museum in the world dedicated to exhibiting collections from a single civilization. In contrast, other museums around the world exhibit collections from several cultures.

The concept of the GEM is displaying the royalism in ancient Egypt through exhibiting the history and the glory of ancient Egyptian kings.

Firstly, you will visit the Obelisk Square housing an ancient Egyptian obelisk. Then you will enter the Atrium to see the colossal statue of King Ramses II.

Then you will move to the Grand Staircase surrounding impressive statues of the ancient Egyptian great kings for welcoming you.

Ramses II - The GEM - Egypt Vacation Tours 2
Ramses II

At the end of the Grand Staircase, you will find the exhibition halls, where the wholeTutankhamen’s Collection will be displayed for the first-ever time since the tomb was unearthed in 1922 by Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings. Besides, there are the other four exhibition halls containing collections reflecting ancient Egyptian history.

In your tour in the GEM, you will see the Egyptian history ranging from the prehistory to the Greek-Roman period throughout 50,000 artifacts some of them never exhibited before; some of these collections from the new Cache of Saqqara and the two boats of King Khufu (Solar Boat) from the fourth dynasty.

Tutankhamun - Egypt Vacation Tours
Tutankhamun

The museum exhibitions will use new technological methods and devices like virtual reality and interactive technological devices, as you will be able to explore the amazing stories and secrets of ancient Egypt through a new experience in hololens hall in the GEM. Wear the hololens and interact with such a real world.

The GEM has the largest conservation center in the world. This center includes 200 restorers are working hard to conserve the collection of the museum to prepare it for display. The center contains 19 conservation labs, 7 of them are divided based on the types of objects.

The Grand Egyptian Museum will house a museum for children; it is an educational department center. In this small museum, replicas are helping them to understand ancient Egyptian history easily. Additionally, the museum will also contain several entertainment facilities like restaurants, theaters, etc.

Now, you will be able to visit this fabulous museum with our day tours the GEM & Giza Pyramids and The Grand Egyptian Museum Day Tour

Know about the new destinations in Egypt with Egypt Vacation Tours team.

CategoriesHistorical Sites By 0iwmp

Dahshur Necropolis – Historical Site

Dahshur is considered as an important part of the Memphis Necropolis, where Pharaonic kings built their pyramids. Dahshur Necropolis is located on the west bank of the Nile River, approximately 40 km southwest of Cairo city.

The Bent Pyramid - Egypt Vacation Tours
The Bent Pyramid

The importance of Dahshur Necropolis lies in reflecting two important stages of the architectural development used by the ancient Egyptian engineers in building the royal pyramids. These stages are shown in the Bent Pyramid and the Red pyramid until they managed and reached the first complete pyramid in the Pharaonic civilization. The first true pyramid is the Red Pyramid, which later led to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza (Cheops  Pyramid).

The Red Pyramid - Egypt Vacation Tours
The Red Pyramid

Dahshur Sightseeing: Dahshur site houses several historical attractions as the pyramids of King Amenemhat II and King Senusert III, dating back to the twelfth dynasty, the middle kingdom. Besides some tombs back to the high officials as the Vizier Sa-Iset, and members of the royal families as Kanefer tomb (the son of Sneferu) located on the east of King Sneferu pyramids (the founder of the fourth dynasty).

But the most famous sightseeing in Dahshur Necropolis is the pyramids of King Sneferu (the Bent Pyramid – the Red Pyramid) from the fourth dynasty, the old kingdom, and the Black pyramid of King Amenemhat III from the twelfth dynasty, the middle kingdom.

Enjoy discovering Dahshur Necropolis with Egypt Vacation Tours team by submitting our various day tours and packages.

CategoriesHistorical Sites By 0iwmp

Abusir Necropolis – Historical Site

Abusir Necropolis is considered an essential part of the Memphis Necropolis, where the ancient Egyptian kings of the fifth dynasty built their pyramids.

Abusir Necropolis houses fourteen pyramids, but the most famous pyramids there are the pyramids of king Neferirkare, Niuserre, and Sahure, dating back to the fifth dynasty.  Additionally, the temple of the sun distinguishing the fifth dynasty and tombs are belonging to members of the royal family as the mastaba of Prince Nakhtkare.

Abusir Necropolis - Egypt Vacation Tours 3
Abusir Necropolis

    Also, Abusir contains several tombs belonging to high officials through the old kingdom:
  • The third dynasty: the tomb of Ity and the tomb of Hetepi.
  • The fourth dynasty: the tomb of Kaaper, architect, and priest.
  • The fifth dynasty: the tomb of Rahotep, the tomb of Fetekti, and the mastaba of Ptahshepses.
  • The sixth dynasty: the tomb of Qar and his sons.

What do you think Abusir means? The name of Abusir is derived from the ancient Egyptian word (Pw-Wsjr), meaning the House or Temple of the god Osiris.

Kindly submit the Egypt Vacation Tours day tour to enjoy discovering this unique necropolis with our experts.

CategoriesCultural Events By 0iwmp

The Egyptian Royal Mummies Parade

On April 3rd, Pharaohs will be in a New Museum. Egypt waits for a great historical event (Royal Mummies Parade). The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is preparing to transfer the royal mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to a new home, to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC).

For getting ready for the Royal Mummies Parade, the Egyptian government and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities develop and decorate Tahrir Square by adding an ancient Egyptian obelisk and four ram-headed sphinxes.

Twenty-Two Pharaonic mummies of Kings and queens will be moved in a royal procession using vintage cars, horses, chariots, and musical shows. This parade will start from Tahrir Square, passing beside the Nile corniche, and reach its final destination in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat.

These Twenty-Two Pharaonic mummies of Kings and queens are eighteen mummies for kings and four mummies for queens. Those kings and queens are Seqnen Ra, Thutmose I, Thutmose II, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Thutmose IV, Amenhotep I, Amenhotep II, Amenhotep III, Seti I, Ramses II, Seti II, Ramses III, Ramses IV, Ramses V, Ramses VI, Ramses IX, Ahmose Nefertari, Merit Amon, Siptah, Merenptah, and Queen Tiye.

    Let me tell you about the history of transferring these mummies: These mummies were entered in the Egyptian Museum in three steps:
  • The first cache was found south of Dier El-Bahri Luxor in 1881 in tomb 320. In 1871 a member of the Abdul Rassul family found a corridor. He entered it to find a treasure of gold and coffins. The family kept their discovery secret, but the discoverer of the tomb asked for more money; this started a fight, and the entire story came out what led to that the Egyptian government began to move all forty royal and non-royal mummies to Cairo in 1881 and entered the Egyptian Museum.
  • The second cache was found by Victor Loret in 1898 behind a decorated wall in the Amenhotep II tomb.  The number of royal mummies is 9 mummies.
  • The third cache was found in Deir El-Bahri, also by the Abdul Rassul family near the tomb of Queen Neferu.  This cache had mummies that were dated to the 21st Dynasty and belonged to the priests of Amon.

These mummies, coffins, and sarcophagus were moved to the Egyptian Museum in 1892, and their number was one hundred and fifty-three coffins.

Egypt Vacation Tours team hope to enjoy visiting the royal mummies in their new home with our day tours

CategoriesMuseums By 0iwmp

Gayer Anderson Museum or Bayt Al-Kritliyya

Gayer Anderson Museum or Bayt Al-Kritliyya is one of the most perfect examples of Islamic domestic architecture in Islamic Cairo, It is located beside Ibn Tulun Mosque. This museum consists of two houses.

The first house is on the east. It was founded by Hajj Mohammad Al-Gazzar in 1632. Later, this house was bought by a lady from Crete Island, so it is called Bayt Al-Kritliyya or Al-Kritliyya House.

The second one is on the west. It was built in 1540. It was called the house of Amna bint Salim. Later, these two houses were connected by a bridge.

But who is Gayer Anderson    Robert Gayer Anderson was a doctor in the British army. He decided to stay in Egypt and bought this house in 1935. After Robert Gayer Anderson’s death, this house is changed to be a museum displaying Gayer Anderson’s collections like oil paintings and ancient Egyptian collections.

Let’s take a tour in the rooms of this house 1 – The Sabil Room or the public drinking fountain. Now, this room displays collections exhibiting the legends of the house.

2 – Then, after ascending a few steps on the west side of the house, you with find the loggia. Enjoy its view and taking amazing photos.

3 – Then, the reception hall, distinguishing with its Islamic decorations.

4 – The picture gallery. In this room, you will find the oil paintings and drawings collected by Gayer Anderson.

5 – Then move to the museum room to see the ancient Egyptian collections of Gayer Anderson.

6 – You will ascend to the roof terrace to be amazed by this view overlooking Ibn Tulun Mosque.

Gayer Anderson Museum - Egypt Vacation Tours

7 – At the end of your tour, you will find a room displaying the medical tools of Gayer Anderson because he was an obstetrician and gynecologist.

Enjoy visiting this fabulous house with Egypt Vacation Tours team

CategoriesSightseeing By 0iwmp

Ben Ezra Synagogue in Coptic Cairo

Ben Ezra Synagogue in Coptic Cairo is one of the most important and famous synagogues in Egypt. It is considered the oldest synagogue in Egypt. It dates back to the 9th century AD.

This synagogue had an old copy of the Old Testament, and it is believed that it was written by the prophet Ezra or Al-Azir, so it is called with Ben Ezra Synagogue.

The history of this Synagogue: Originally, this building was a Christian church called El-Shamieen Church. But in 882, it was being sold to a group of Jews led by the Jewish religious scholar and philosopher Abraham Ben Ezra for 20,000 dinars.

It is built in the shape of a basilica style. It includes two floors. The first floor is dedicated to men and it contains the bimah, while the second one is dedicated to women.

It is decorated in Arabesque style and inlaid with mother of pearl, displaying a merge of artistic traditions.

Stories about this synagogue: It is said that this place of this Synagogue was where the box of Baby Moses was found.

Visit Ben Ezra Synagogue with Egypt Vacation Tours team Cairo day tours.

CategoriesSightseeing By 0iwmp

The Hanging Church – Coptic Cairo

The Hanging Church is considered the oldest and most famous church in Egypt. It lies in Coptic Cairo beside the Babylon fortress.

The history of this church: This building was originally a Roman temple, but in the fourth century AD, after Christianity entered Egypt, it was transferred to be a church.

The Hanging Church became the seat of the Coptic Pope at the beginning of the eleventh century AD. Now, it is transferred to Abbasiya.

Let’s take a tour on the church: The first thing you will see is a group of mosaic icons referring to important events in Christianity as the miracle of transferring Mount Mokattam and the Journey of The Holy Family.

After that, you will see its Truss roof distinguishing this church. It is said that this roof referring to Noah’s Ark as a symbol of salvation and peace.

Then, you will enter the building of the church. It takes the Basilic design. At the end of the nave, there are three shrines for Mar Girgis, Virgin Mary, and John the Baptist.

The Hanging Church - Egypt Vacation Tours (2)

At the end of this article, we will tell you why this church is called a hanging church. Originally, this church was called the Virgin Mary Church, but after that, it is called the Hanging Church because it was founded on two towers of the Babylon fortress, so it appeared as hanging.

Visit the oldest church in Egypt with Egypt Vacation Tours team with Day Tours to Coptic Cairo.

CategoriesSightseeing By 0iwmp

The Cavern Church – Abu Serga Church

The Cavern Church has several names as Abu Serga Church, the St. Sergius Church, or Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church. It lies in Coptic Cairo beside the Hanging church.

The church is dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus, who were soldier-saints martyred during the 4th century in Syria by the Roman Emperor Maximian.

the Cavern church - Egypt Vacation Tours

The Importance of Abu Serga Church In this place, there is the cave, where the Holy family (Virgin Mary and the Christ) hid during their journey in Egypt, fleeing Roman persecution. After that, the church was founded upon this cave because of its sanctity.

The Cavern Church - Egypt Vacation Tours (2)

Visit the Cavern Church with Egypt Vacation Tours team with Day Tours to Coptic Cairo.

CategoriesSightseeing By 0iwmp

Monastery Palace on Rhoda Island

Monastery Palace is an artistic and architectural masterpiece overlooking the Nile River directly. Also, it is known as the Kiosk.

It was built by Hassan Fouad Pasha Al. Monastery, the Cairo Governor and Minister of the Interior in Abbas Pasha Period in 1851.

The palace is famous for its beautiful decorative style, and wooden architecture design, and the music room has a ceiling taking the dome shape making the music spread all over the room. Now, there are concerts are held in this room.

Manasterly Palace - Egypt Vacation Tours (1)

The Ministry of Antiquities turns this palace to be a museum in 1951.

Additionally, there is a wooden bridge is attached to this palace is called the Manasterly bridge.  You will be able to take fabulous photos there.

Manasterly Bridge - Egypt Vacation Tours
Monastery Bridge

Visit this amazing palace with the Egypt Vacation Tours team with Day Tours to Coptic Cairo.

Also, enjoy visiting this palace and the Nilometer on a virtual tour provided by the ministry of tourism and antiquities via this link