Cairo Citadel – An Islamic Medieval Fortification in Cairo, Egypt

The Cairo Citadel in Egypt is really a medieval Islamic fortification built in 1183 CE round the ancient city to safeguard contrary to the invading Crusaders. Nowadays, you will find that lots of of our personal guided Cairo tour deals include a stop by at the Citadel.

Outer wall space of the Cairo Citadel.

The Citadel of Cairo can be known as the Mohamed Ali Citadel or Saladin Citadel. It really is today probably the most visited sights in Cairo, and it’s certainly one appeal you don’t desire to miss during your holiday in Egypt. Actually, its extreme reputation is among the reasons why we consist of it in lots of of our Egypt visit deals.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW Of Saladin Citadel

Old Cairo was located next to another town of similar size referred to as Ayyubid, and both towns were destined ahead under risk from the advancing Crusaders. To be able to protect both cities contrary to the Crusaders, the ruler of Ayyubid, Sala-Al-Din (Saladin) declared he would build a walls around both metropolitan areas.

The walls would commence on the lender of the Nile River and create its way round the two cities, ultimately ending once again on the lender of the river. His eyesight was to take both cities and generate one grand town that may be defended by way of a single army. Structure of the walls started in 1176 CE and finished in 1183 CE, thereby successfully creating what’s today referred to as Cairo Citadel.

The positioning of the Citadel, together with the style, made it an extremely difficult target for just about any potential invaders which is also the key reason why the complicated continued to serve because the center of the Egyptian federal government until as recently because the mid 19th century.

WHAT THINGS TO Expect When Going to The Citadel Of Cairo

Cairo Citadel since it stands today houses numerous mosques, one of that is the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pashar, on the summit of the Citadel. Nobody in fact knows for certain how or why the Citadel must some degree taken on the title of this specific mosque. Some think it’s due to the mosque’s place on the summit, while some argue that it’s because Muhammad Ali Pashar had been the last someone to seize strength of the Citadel when he got it from the Mamluk’s in 1805.

Additionally, there are two other mosques which are definitely worthy of visiting, specifically: Hypostyle Mosque of al-Nasir Muhammad and the Mosque of Suleyman Pasha. As well as the mosques, visitors also needs to take time to go to the National Army Museum; the authorities Museum; the Carriage Museum, not to mention the Al-Gawhara Palace museum.

Great Citadel Breezes And Magnificent Views

No visit to Cairo is complete with out a stop by at Cairo Citadel, even though limited to the spectacular sights it provides of the Nile River and present day Cairo. The Citadel provides long since been identified by locals for the wonderfully great breezes which are constantly a welcome split from the most common heat in the town. Many locals along with tourists make their solution to the area frequently in order to benefit from the cool oxygen and the really splendid views.

Properly Of Joseph – An Ambitious Irrigation Project

With so several inhabitants residing within the confines of the town, Saladin had to discover a way to provide drinking water, for not merely the people, also for all of the animals. He later on ordered a properly to be dug close by, which he afterwards called “Nicely of Joseph.” To retrieve drinking water from the 285 foot strong, one had to utilize the spiral stairs that wound their method around the inside walls of the nicely. With a complete of 300 stairs, it’s barely surprising that the properly also became referred to as the “Properly of Spiral”. Despite its depth and near proximity to the river, it soon became obvious that it had been not producing sufficient drinking water to meet up demand. Amazingly good enough, the Nicely of Joseph can be seen even today.

To treat this, Saladin provided orders to move water from the close by Nile River to the wall structure of the town. This was done through several water wheels. After the water attained the wall, it had been then transported in to the Citadel through the aqueducts which got recently been built for transporting drinking water from the Properly of Joseph.

Cairo Citadel And Islamic Cairo THE SIMPLE Way

As is usually to be expected, you can find buses galore in Cairo, and several of them may be used to reach Saladin Citadel, as can a variety of taxis that ply the city’s roads, but there’s a far greater way to go to this phenomenal medieval attraction. Simply publication among our Egypt tour deals or Cairo tour deals, and allow us showing you what genuine Egyptian hospitality is similar to, over and above a trip to the Cairo Citadel.