Old Cairo Misr el-Oadima
There is much of interest to see in the southern district of Old Cairo, on the right bank of the Nile opposite the south end of the island of Roda. In the southern part of this district is the Qasr el-Shama quarter, mainly inhabited by Christians, which lies within the walls (still partly preserved) of the Roman fortress of Babylon.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
Old Cairo
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Church of St Barbara
Within the area of the Roman citadel are a number of other old Coptic churches. A few houses away from Abu Sarga is the Church of Sitt Barbara, founded in the fifth century and rebuilt in the 10th-11th centuries.
Church of St George
To the north of the Church of St Barbara is the church of Mari Girgis (St George), founded in the seventh century, with a richly decorated nave.
Church of the Virgin
To the north of the Church of St Barbara is the Church of the Virgin, founded in the ninth century and rebuilt in the 18th.
Monastery St Stephen
Farther to the northwest of the Mosque of Amr is the picturesque old Coptic Monastery of Abu Seifein.
Mosque of Amr
Northeast of the Coptic Museum is the Mosque of Amr, believed to be the oldest in Cairo; the present rather dilapidated building, however, dates mainly from the 18th century. On this site Amr ibn el-As, Caliph Omar's General, built the first mosque in Fustat in the year 642; it was soon considerably enlarged, but was destroyed during the Crusades.
Synagogue
In the Synagogue (Keniset Eliahu; until the eighth century a Christian church), the largest in Egypt, Elijah is said to have appeared and Moses to have prayed.
