Cairo Tower–A Classic Landmark on Egypt postage stamp
Cairo Tower, also known as Burj Al Qahira and Gezirah Tower, is the tallest building not only in the city but in all of in Egypt; it’s roughly 43 meters taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza. This famous landmark’s design is inspired by the lotus flower, which, along with papyrus, is the most revered plant in Egyptian history. Cairo Tower was built purely with concrete, and without one single iron bar. By today’s standards, a 187 meter tower is certainly not going to be breaking any records, but let’s not forget that Cairo tower has been a part of the city’s skyline for nearly 60 years already. It was also the tallest structure on the African continent until 1971, when it lost its status to the Hillbrow Tower in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Another great thing about Cairo Tower is the fact that it stays open throughout the day and well into the night, making it possible for people to visit the observation deck at night as well. Cairo at night, as seen from the observation deck, is a sight not many visitors are likely to forget. If the sky and the city below don’t satisfy your appetite for twinkling lights, then fear not because there are more lights waiting a few floors down.
That’s right, start heading down towards the ground floor, and you’ll come across the vibrant and very popular Legends nightclub, complete with good quality lighting and audio, not to mention the most amazing belly dancing shows that take place regularly. Visiting the tower during daylight hours might not dazzle like a nighttime visit will, but the views from the tower are quite simply breathtaking. Not only can you see most of downtown Cairo, but you also see Egypt’s most iconic landmarks in the distance, the Great Pyramids of Giza. Sure, they are some distance away, but there’s just something magical about actually seeing them there in the distance.
Naoum Shebib (1915 – 1985), of Lebanese origin, is considered one of the leading Egyptian architects and the precursor of modern architecture in Egypt. He was also a structural engineer and entrepreneur. His most famous work is undoubtedly the Cairo Tower, which is the tallest structure in Egypt, rising 187 meters. His other notable projects include Ali Baba Movie Theater (Cairo), Saint Thérèse Church (Port Said), Saint Catherine’s Church (Heliopolis), Thabet-Thabet Building (Cairo), and Al-Ahram Building (Cairo). The Egyptian post service issued two stamps on April 11, 2011 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Cairo Tower.
