Coptic Cairo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited parts of the Egyptian capital, a walled enclave in the southern district of Old Cairo that predates the Islamic city by centuries. Built on the site of the ancient Roman fortress of Babylon, it became a refuge for early Christians and remains the spiritual heartland of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox community today. Walking through its narrow, stone-paved lanes feels genuinely removed from the chaos of modern Cairo — lanterns hang between walls, incense drifts out of open doorways, and the hum of the city fades to something closer to silence.
Neighbourhood