Museums

Museums
The Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square, right in the heart of downtown, is an enriching experience that encompasses 107 halls of Ancient Egyptian displays of the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, Modern Kingdom monuments, jewels, mummies, sarcophagi and Tutankhamon’s treasures. However, Cairo is dotted with many other smaller museums that show its history and culture: The Mukhtar Museum is another great visit. Built to house Mahmud Mukhtar’s work, one of the greatest Egyptian sculptures. The building houses eighty-five bronze, stone, basalt, marble, granite and plaster works. The Agriculture Museum Opened in 1938, it was the first museum of its kind in the world. The museum occupies the palace of Princess Fatma, daughter of Khedive Ismail. The grounds of the museum cover about 125,000 square meters that contain many different trees, bushes, rare plants, green areas and greenhouses, in addition to two Pharaonic gardens. The museum is a great insight of agriculture in Egypt, from the Pharaonic era until today.
Coptic Museum A collection of Coptic works in all media, from paintings, textiles, metalwork and icons, also one of the oldest bibles in the world is displayed there. The collection in this newly refurbished museum is beautifully displayed. Museum of Islamic Ceramics Located in the splendid palace of Prince Ibrahim, which is an impressive example of Islamic architecture and decoration in itself. It has a priceless collection of Islamic ceramics from, among other places, Egypt, Iran, Turkey and southern Spain. The exhibition demonstrates various firing and decoration techniques. The Railway Museum Located at the far right hand side of Misr Railway Station in Ramsis Square, the Railway Museum was founded in 1933. It contains more than seven hundred pieces of models of steam engines, chariots, the royal train, in addition to a collection of statistical documents and maps that demonstrate the development of transportation through the last decades. Furthermore, it includes sections on bridges and airplanes. Gayer Anderson Museum The museum is actually two houses dating to 1540 and 1632 respectively. A retired British army major purchased the two houses in the 1930s and refurbished them, filling their spaces with an outstanding collection of Oriental furniture and pieces. Marble fountains and fine Turkish rugs. It’s definitely worth a detour. A Cultural Experience A Turkish Sama’ Khana within the precincts of the Mausoleum- Madrasa of Amir Sunqur Sa’di The Mausoleum complex was gradually passed over to the Mawlawi Dervishes from the 16th century on to the 19th century. Currently, the present building that dates back to the nineteenth century encompasses the Mevelvi Dervish Theatre or the Sama’ Khana, which means the Hall of Listening where the main dervish rituals took place. The place has been restored in the late seventies and eighties. Rituals may still take place on Tuesdays. Please check with your travel agent. It is located on Sewifiya Street off Saliba Street and right
next to Amir Taz palace Makan Center for Culture & Arts is the closest to an underground performance. The cellar-like atmosphere blends perfectly with the performances of the Mazaher Ensemble with Nubian songs and Zikr, rendered regularly in this venue. Tea is offered free of charge during intermission. CDs of
the Mazaher Ensemble and other artists are on sale at the ticket counter. Al-Geneina Theatre is an open-air amphitheatre situated inside Al-Azhar Park on Salah Salem Road. Many local and international bands, Arabic fusion and dances are performed during the weekends in the summer months. El-Sawi Cultural Center
Situated in an open-air atmosphere, offers concerts, movie screenings, performing arts, poetry readings, seminars, exhibitions, and many more. Kobet El Ghouri El Ghouri Complex) is not only an architectural arts center, but also organizes a bi-weekly Tanoura dance. Also many performances from different cultures are featured there. Cairo Opera House and Gomhouria Theatres You can enjoy an evening of classical music performed by the Cairo Opera Orchestra or the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and Ballet by the Cairo Ballet Troupe. At intervals, the Cairo Opera House hosts famous music conductors, orchestras and ballets from other countries such as the Bolshoi Ballet Company and London Symphony Orchestra. Both cultural houses also feature modern dances and music and operas both local and international. Entrance tickets are on sale at the ticket office of the theatres and vary between LE 10- LE 200, depending on the show. Balloon Theatre Folklore Troupes usually perform in this theatre. Egypt has two national troupes, the Reda Troupe and the National Troupe for Folkloric Dances. They both show different ethnic dances from all over Egypt. Al Manasterly Palace Piano duet concerts are held there once a month, usually by international well-known musicians. The palace is hailed for its splendid ornamented ceilings and the walls are garnished with colored greenery ornaments and bird figures. The terrace overlooking the Nile and Nilometer, offers refreshments during intervals.