Mīt Namā: Glass Craft and History

Mīt Namā brings together glassmaking, Mamluk architectural history, and Coptic heritage with a grade-separated road interchange. Hand-blown glass is made in Mīt Namā; the area is also home to the historic Baybars Bridge and the Coptic Orthodox Church of Saint George and St. Abraam. The interchange connects Cairo’s Ring Road with the Cairo–Alexandria agricultural road. When looking for a holiday apartment, it is worth first deciding what you want to focus on: should Mīt Namā itself, with its craft and local history, be at the center of your trip, or would you also like to include topics from the wider destination of al-Qalyubiyya?

Glassmaking, from the furnace to the finished piece

In a workshop in Mīt Namā, molten glass is drawn from a furnace and blown through a pipe to create hollow forms. A report dated July 29, 2025, mentions handmade glassware from Mīt Namā, including plates, cups, and lamps. Some pieces bear printed Quranic verses or other inscriptions. This provides a way to understand the craft both through its production process and through the finished objects. If you enjoy getting to know a place through a specific tradition, glassblowing offers a tangible point of entry: molten material is shaped into hollow forms, while the mentioned products show a range of uses and designs.

The Baybars Bridge and architectural history

The Baybars Bridge, also known as the Abu al-Manga Qanaters, is a historic Mamluk-era bridge in Mīt Namā. It was built in 1266–1267 on the orders of the Mamluk Sultan Baybars and expanded in 1487 under Sultan Qaitbay. The two dates mark different phases of construction: the bridge was built first, then expanded more than two centuries later. This makes it a tangible reference point for the area’s Mamluk architectural history.

Coptic dedication and feast days

The Coptic Orthodox Church of Saint George and St. Abraam is located in Mīt Namā, Qalyub, in the al-Qalyubiyya Governorate. It is dedicated to Saint George and Anba Abraam, the Bishop of Fayoum. The two patrons are also commemorated on feast days: Parmouti 23 marks the martyrdom of Saint George, while Ba'una 3 marks the death of Anba Abraam. The dedication and these dates give local history a religious dimension distinct from the history of bridge construction and road infrastructure.

The road interchange as a separate construction project

The interchange project included a concrete bridge over the Abu al-Manga Canal, 128 m long and 42 m wide. An asphalt road also connected the two bridges. The contract was signed on June 20, 1990, and the project was completed on August 18, 1996. Two very different construction histories stand side by side here: the historic Mamluk-era Baybars Bridge and a later infrastructure project described with specific dimensions and dates.

A regional perspective on al-Qalyubiyya

In the wider destination of al-Qalyubiyya, Al-Qanatir al-Khayreya is located where the Nile divides into the Rosetta and Damietta branches. The complex opened in 1868. Its irrigation gardens cover about 68 feddans, divided among ten gardens belonging to the Ministry; the gardens lie between the two Nile branches. Another way to explore the region’s history is the Muhammad Ali Palace in Shubra: construction began in 1808 and was completed in 1821. Its architecture combines European aesthetic elements with Islamic architecture. Thus, within the wider destination, the history of gardens and waterworks sits alongside a distinct architectural theme.

Which focus suits your choice of location?

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can choose based on the themes you want to shape your trip. Mīt Namā brings together glassmaking, the history of the Baybars Bridge, and the dedication of the Coptic Orthodox church. Gardens and palace architecture are among the themes of the wider destination of al-Qalyubiyya. If you are planning a family trip, you can decide together which of these focuses should take priority.

For the wider travel overview: al-Qalyubiyya.