The City of the Dead in Cairo is one of the most surprising places you can find in this city and in the rest of the country. However, it is worth being clear about what it is and what it is not, so as not to be misled or find yourself in undesirable situations. In this post we tell you everything you need to know about this corner so (unfortunately) characteristic of the Egyptian capital.
What the City of the Dead in Cairo is
Just by reading its name, anyone can see how unique this place is. Originally, it was an Arab cemetery in the city, one of the most important, located at the foot of the Mokkatam mountain. It began on the outskirts of the urban area in the 7th century, housing tombs and mausoleums of great personalities as well as ordinary citizens.
However, the city’s runaway development since the late 19th century meant that many citizens, with no other housing solution, moved to this necropolis to live inside its structures, for example family pantheons. That is why it is said that the city of the dead is full of life, as many people live among the graves of the deceased. It is difficult to establish an exact figure, but one can speak of tens of thousands of people. Many of them do so among the tombs of their ancestors, but others live alongside the dead to whom they are not related.
As it is one of the city’s most important necropolises, there are truly monumental tombs. For example, the mausoleum of Princess Fathia, that of Sultan Al Ashraf Qaytbay (Mamluk architecture from the mid-15th century) or that of Mehmet Ali’s family (whose tomb is in the Alabaster Mosque).
What the City of the Dead is NOT
Now that you know what the City of the Dead in Cairo is, it is equally important to explain what it is not. First of all, it is worth remembering that it is not a tourist site. Despite being included within the UNESCO World Heritage Site (Historic Cairo), and despite the fact that some agencies offer tours here, it is not a place you can visit like paid venues (museums, mosques) or squares in the city centre.
Therefore, visiting it is only advisable for people with very specific interests, whether from a sociological point of view or from a historical-artistic one, such as researchers. Our agency, therefore, does not include it in tourist itineraries around the country, but we remind you that we can adapt any route, as we work tailor-made for each client.
The City of the Dead is not even just another neighbourhood. As painful as it is to say, it is one of the most deprived areas of the capital, where its housing structures cannot be considered homes but rather substandard housing, as most lack electricity and running water.
It is true that, walking through the City of the Dead, you will not only come across local families and neighbours, in the midst of their particular daily life, but also foreign travellers. Its inhabitants are already used to this and even offer to show some iconic corners of the ‘neighbourhood’, perhaps in exchange for some financial help.
Lastly, it is not a place the authorities are particularly proud of, due to the difficulties its inhabitants go through and those the authorities themselves face when it comes to improving the city’s infrastructure. And this is shown by the protests that residents often stage against the construction of infrastructure (Metro, roads, communications) that entails demolitions or forced evictions.
