Coptic Cairo contains the oldest church, oldest mosque and oldest synagogue in Cairo; although some of the buildings are newer, some date back to the 9th and 10th Centuries. We visited the Hanging Church (named for its location above the gatehouse of the Babylon Fortress), Church of St George and Monastery of St George. In addition we walked through the Coptic cemetery where families have, what appear to be, small houses for their dead. The Ben Ezra synagogue was closed for renovation.
While estimates vary, today around 20% of the population of Egypt are Coptic christians. It is common to see churches and mosques close to each other in the towns and villages along the Nile.
Shilli-Fully Travels 