Cairo was founded by the Fatimid dynasty in 969, gradually taking over from Fustat as the main urban centre during the 12th - 16th century of the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. City population 10 million, outer metropolitan region 12 million. In Cairo we mainly visited the Citadel area, the Giza Pyramids, and Coptic Sites (see other album). Also included here are photos from the ancient sites of Memphis and Saqqara, just 30 km south of Cairo.