Islamic heritage in Cairo

Cairo’s historic core preserves a dense concentration of Islamic architecture spanning over a millennium. This collection features the 9th-century spiraled minaret of Ibn Tulun and the Fatimid-era Al-Azhar, one of the world's oldest universities. The skyline is dominated by the Salah El Din Citadel, housing the Ottoman-style Muhammad Ali Mosque. Notable Mamluk contributions include the massive Sultan Hassan complex and the Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque, characterized by its unique ceramic-tiled minarets and grand courtyards.

Cairo's Islamic Heritage — Map

A

Salah El Din Citadel

Salah El Din Citadel was completed in 1183 and throughout its history, this fortification not only protected the city but it also served as…

B

El Azhar Mosque

Established in 972, Al-Azhar represents the oldest mosque and the oldest operating university in Cairo with more than thousand years of…

C

Mosque of Muhammad Ali

Also known as the Alabaster Mosque, this mosque with two minarets is one of the most popular landmarks in the city.

D

Mosque of Ahmad Ibn Ţūlūn

The Mosque of Ibn Tulun is located in Cairo, Egypt. It is one of the oldest mosques in Egypt as well as the whole of Africa surviving in its…

E

Sultan Hassan Mosque

An eye-candy for the lovers of Islamic architecture as it features many unusual elements - large wooden dome or twin minarets.

F

Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad

Named after Sultan al-Muayyad, this mosque is yet another Cairo's example of the Mamluk architecture that was completed in 1421.

G

Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque

Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque, dating back to the 14th century, is a gem of the so-called Mamluk Architecture.

H

El-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque

One of Cairo's most significant shrines, dedicated to the granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad. The current structure dates to the 19th century, though the site has been a major center of Sufi devotion and pilgrimage since the 10th century.

I

Madrasa of Sultan al-Zahir Baybars

Built in 1262 by the Mamluk Sultan Baybars, this complex served as a school for the four Sunni schools of law. Only parts of the original structure remain, including the monumental entrance featuring striped ablaq masonry.

J

Al-Tala'ee Mosque

Commissioned in 1160 by the Fatimid vizier Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, this is the last major Fatimid mosque built in Cairo. It is notable for its elevated base, which originally housed shops beneath the prayer hall to provide endowment income.

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