The Talisman Hotel is one of the very few small boutique hotels located in central Cairo, less than a mile away from the treasures of Tutankhamen’s tomb in the grandeur of the Egyptian Museum, and about 10 miles away from the celebrated and spectacular pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. The 24 guestrooms have a warm-colored décor and in a traditional, North African style but include modern conveniences like satellite TV, desks, Internet access, separate sitting areas, and telephones, whilst bathrooms come equipped with complimentary toiletries, bathrobes, and hair dryers. The Hotel has a spacious swimming pool, solarium and terrace for relaxation, and a restaurant which serves a variety of culinary delights and a lively Sports One Café where you can listen to music whilst enjoying a drink.
Guided touring includes the following:
Pyramids: Your Egyptologist will meet you at the hotel to escort you on an unforgettable tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza. The only present-day survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, they are among the world’s greatest tourist attractions and never lose their ability to inspire and overwhelm visitors. Your tour today includes an opportunity to enter inside one of these fabulous monuments and explore the mysteries of its ancient past for yourself.
Sphinx: Enter the temple of the mysterious Sphinx, an ancient figure shrouded in legend and mystery. Your Egyptologist will enthrall you with the tales told of this fascinating figure.
Sakkara: Experience Egypt’s long and rich history in this exciting double tour to the city of Memphis and the necropolis of Sakkara. At vast Sakkara, you will see the famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the first freestanding stone structure in the world. Our Egyptologist will guide you to some tombs belonging to the nobles of the past. They show the beauty and excellence of Ancient Egyptian art on their walls and give an insight in the daily life of Ancient Egypt.
Memphis: At the site of Memphis, you will see the ancient capital that once stood as a flourishing metropolis during the time of the Pharaohs. The place is thickly surrounded by lush palm groves and bushes, isolating the site of the old city from modern civilization.
Museum: Your Egyptologist will escort you today on a fascinating tour of 7,000 years of Egyptian history with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. The Museum houses the world’s greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, including 12 rooms filled with golden treasures from the world-famous tomb of the boy-king Tutenkhamun.
Islamic Cairo: Take a fascinating tour of Islamic Cairo, including the beautiful and graceful Mohamed Ali Mosque and the ancient Citadel, a spectacular medieval fortress perched on a hill above the city. Originally built by Salah El-Din in 1176 to fortify the city against the Crusaders, the Citadel was modified and enlarged over the centuries by subsequent rulers and today is a complex of three mosques and four museums.
Khan El-Khalili Bazaar: Proceed to the fascinating Khan El-Khalili Bazaar – reputed to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Originally founded as a watering stop for caravanserai in the 14th century, the bazaar has now grown to vast proportions. As you wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets you will find workshops and stalls selling all manner of things from woodwork, glassware and leather goods to perfumes, fabrics and Pharaonic curiosities. Remember to bargain hard!
Catacombs of Kom El Shugafa: The Catacombs of Kom El Shugafa are the largest Roman burial site discovered in Egypt to date, consisting of three tiers of tombs and chambers cut into the bedrock to a depth of about 35 meters. Constructed in the 2nd century AD as a single- family crypt, these tombs represent the last existing major construction for the sake of the old Egyptian religion. They were later expanded to hold more than 300 individual tombs. There is even a banquet hall where grieving relatives paid their last respects with a funereal feast. Though the motifs are pure ancient Egyptian, the architects and artists were schooled in the Greco-Roman style, resulting in an amazingly integrated art quite unlike anything else in the world.
Alexandria Library and Museum: The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is not only a library, but also an integrated cultural complex, with libraries, museums, exhibition areas, educational centers, and an international conference center. It is built on the believed site of the old Library of Alexandria, built by Ptolemy I. It was the largest of all antiquity, frequented by scholars from all over the Mediterranean from the 4th Century BC until its eventual destruction by fire seven hundred years later.
Roman Amphitheater: The only Roman amphitheater in Egypt was discovered quite recently, during the foundation digging for a new apartment building. The well-preserved theatre once stood with thirteen semi-circular tiers of white marble imported from Europe. It contains galleries, sections of mosaic-flooring, and marble seats for up to 800 spectators. At one point, it may have even been roofed over to serve as an Odeon for musical performances and some inscriptions suggest that it was sometimes also used for wrestling contests.
Alexandria National Museum: The collection in this newly opened museum includes thousands of items spanning from the Pharaonic Era, through Greco-Roman times, to the Modern Era. Papyrus scrolls, ancient perfume bottles and painted mummy cases are tastefully displayed as well as classic Greek statues showing the physical beauty that represent the ideals of that culture. The artifacts guide the visitor right up to the times of Mubarak and illustrate Alexandria’s role in the modern history of Egypt.
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