But change is in the air. Old Cairo is being highlighted as a major attraction of the millennium celebrations, and in addition to the restoration of historical monuments, the whole is being landscaped for tourism. Change is apparent. Workers mill around bearing raw material to deliver to different sites while removing debris from others. Drainage water is being pumped out of the historical zone and as for the Coptic Museum itself, its walls are being cleaned, mashrabeya woodwork restored and a new outer wall built.
Work is in full swing to develop Old Cairo into the world's first-ever religious complex.
The conservation scheme of Old Cairo was mooted almost three years ago when restoration of the synagogue of Ben Ezra, the Hanging Church and the Amr Ibn Al-Aas mosque started. He pointed out that the synagogue became internationally famous when writings, known as the Geniza documents, were discovered there, casting light on the community in medieval times. The ongoing restoration project of the Hanging Church is in high gear. The first phase entailed reducing the level of subsoil water beneath the ancient fortress on which part of the church is built, reinforcing the supporting columns and restoring all woodwork. The current second phase includes consolidating the architectural elements of the bell-towers and ceiling, cleaning the floor and replacing damaged tiles.