Coptic heritage · Cairo
Coptic Cairo
The heart of Old Cairo, where the Hanging Church, Abu Serga, the Coptic Museum and Ben Ezra Synagogue gather around the Roman fortress of Babylon.
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The story
Coptic Cairo lies in Old Cairo, where the Romans built the fortress of Babylon on the Nile's east bank, near the mouth of an ancient canal linking the river to the Red Sea. Within and around its walls grew some of Egypt's oldest churches, among them the Hanging Church, named because its nave rests above a passage of the fortress gatehouse, and Abu Serga, built, according to Coptic tradition, where the Holy Family rested during their flight into Egypt. Beside the churches stands the Ben Ezra Synagogue, whose genizah storeroom preserved a vast archive of documents over the centuries; much of it reached Cambridge after Solomon Schechter's visit in 1896-97. The Coptic Museum, founded in 1910, holds the world's largest collection of Coptic art, including manuscripts, icons, carved woodwork and frescoes.
Good to know
- The Hanging Church takes its name from its nave, which rests above a passage of the Roman fortress gatehouse; visitors climb 29 steps to reach it.
- Coptic tradition places the Holy Family's rest at Abu Serga church, which has a crypt about 10 m below its floor.
- The Coptic Museum was founded in 1910 and holds the world's largest collection of Coptic art.
- The genizah of the Ben Ezra Synagogue preserved medieval documents, most of which went to Cambridge after Solomon Schechter's visit in 1896-97.
Visiting tips
Per the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities site, the Coptic Museum opens daily 9:00 to 17:00 (last ticket 16:00; shorter hours in Ramadan), with foreign-visitor tickets at EGP 280 (EGP 140 students). The churches are active places of worship, so modest dress is advised. Please check hours and prices before visiting, as they can change.