About the place
The "City of the Dead" (Qarafa, Arafa) is a four-mile-long cemetery extending from the northern to the southern part of Cairo, located at the foot of Moqattam Hill, very close to the centre of Cairo. There are five cemeteries: the North Cemetery, the Bab el Nasr Cemetery, the South Cemetery, the Great Cemetery and the Bab el Wazir.
It is a dynamic network of tombs and mausoleums where people live and work among their dead ancestors. It is a poor, urban Egyptian community that is essentially illegal but tolerated. It is estimated that more than five million people live there and pursue any work they can find. The "City of the Dead" population is growing excessively due to ongoing migration and a complex nationwide housing crisis.
It is both an ancient cemetery and a living part of Cairo. In the past, Egyptian rulers used this area to bury the dead, as it was located outside the city itself at that time. However, history has shown that since the time of the Pharaohs, this place has been considered a place where life begins. For many, the "City of the Dead" is a mysterious, magical and foreboding area.
The cemeteries in the "City of the Dead" differ significantly from those in Western societies. The Egyptians traditionally buried the deceased in room-like tombs, which also served as temporary housing for relatives during the prescribed forty-day mourning period. For this reason, the City of the Dead looks like a typical residential area. Looking behind the walls, you will find not only graves and tombs but also linen, beds and other objects.
Location
The City of the Dead, or Cairo Necropolis (Qarafa, el-Arafa), is situated below the Mokattam Hills in southeastern Cairo, Egypt. You can reach it very easily by taxi. Another, maybe better option, would be to go there with a private guide.
☘️ Social Media: Instagram / Facebook / BlueSky / Vero;
☘️ Call us: +359 888 420 160 (WhatsApp/ Viber);
☘️ Subscribe to our newsletter
THOUSAND VOYAGES
→ Thousand Voyages Tours and Expeditions
→ Thousand Voyages Stories: Indian subcontinent ◦◦ Africa ◦◦ Eastern Europe ◦◦ Far East and South-east Asia ◦◦ Central Asia ◦◦ Middle East ◦◦ The Balkans
→ Thousand Voyages Travel / Documentary Editorial Photo and Video archive
→ Pavel’s Limited Edition Archival Prints
All photos and video footage across my websites are authentic and taken by me personally. They are not available anywhere else.