EGYPT CAIRO |
A most colourful part of Cairo lies in its east. Called the Islamic Cairo, it stages such a magnificent collection of Islamic architecture, and I was caught completely unprepared :) Previous Page Egypt Main Page Next Page |
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Let's start our trip from the most famous Citadel, which was home to Egypt's rulers between the 12th and 19th centuries. It commands such a magnificent view of Cairo; you can even see the pyramids of Giza and Saqqara all the way to the west and south. The dominant building here is the Mosque of Mohammed Ali, which was built between 1830 and 1848 in the Turkish style. |
Bab al-Azab, the west gate of the Citadel, was added earlier under the ruling of the Ottomans (1517-1798). Opposite the gate stands a group of beautiful mosques, including the Mosque Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, the Mosque of Mahmoud Pasha and the Mosque of Amir Akhur. |
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Not far up the street is the beautiful Blue Mosque, or the Mosque of Aqsunqur. The minaret is definitely worth the climb because up there...... You can see the Citadel again hahaha...... |
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This marvellous gate leads into Al-Azhar Mosque. Founded in 970, it is one of Cairo's earliest mosques as well as the world's oldest surviving university. It has a spacious courtyard, with three minarets dated from the 14th, 15th and 16th century respectively. There are several rooms for praying, and people are allowed to rest here during the daytime as well. |
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Isn't this wood work a masterpiece? |
And in the chamber behind, a praying room dedicated to women, I found this girl. She is simply too beautiful to me, as if all the Egyptian sculptures were modelled on her. |