Al- Rifai Mosque Cairo Egypt

Al-Rifa'i Mosque is located in Citadel Square, adjacent to the Cairo Citadel. Its name is derived from the Ali Abu Shubbak who is buried in the mosque. Now, it is also the royal mausoleum of Muhammad Ali's family.

Al-Rifa'i Mosque  located on Salah al-Din Square (or Maydan al-Qal’a “Citadel Square”), al-Rifa’i Mosque was built in the nineteenth century to Equivalent its fourteenth-century neighbor, the mosque of al-Sultan Ḥassan. The mosque gets its name from the tomb of Ali who was known as "Abu Sheibak", he was the grandson of imam Ahmad al-Rifa’i. when the mosque was completed, it was imputed directly to Ahmad al-Rifa’i who founded the Rifa’i Sufi order. Although he was never buried here, the mosque witness a joyous annual Sufi celebrations commemorating his birth.

The original structure was a Fatimid mosque, which was then transformed into a shrine for Ali Abu Sheibak. Finally,

Hoshiyar Hanim, the mother of Khedive Ismail, commissioned the current design of the mosque and put in charge of the construction the architect Hussein Pasha Fahmi. Part of the plan was to have a mausoleum for the family of Muhammad Ali as part of the extension, which was made by imported building materials from Europe, such as Italian marble. The construction has stopped for years until it was completed in the region of Khedive Abbas Helmi II in 1330Ah\ 1912 AD.​

Al-Rifa’i Mosque’s architectural design is as interesting as its construction history. Visitors stand in awe of the detailed decoration of the outer walls and massive columns of the outer gate. The minarets are distinguished by their beauty and elegance. Additionally, cement was used in the construction of the mosque for the first time in any of Islamic monument in Egypt, signaling the transition into modern times.

While a section of the mosque is dedicated to prayers, another is reserved for the members of the family of Muhammad Ali Pasha, which was in power from the early nineteenth century until the 1953, when the modern Egyptian republic was born. Khedive Ismail and his mother Hoshiyar Kadin, as well as Kings Fuad I and Farouk, the last two rulers of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, are buried here, all enshrined in elaborate tombs. The mosque contains the burial chamber of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi (d. 1400 AH/1980 AD), the last Shah of Iran.

The original structure on the site was a small 12th century Fatimid-era mosque, known as the Al-Dakhirah Mosque. But later, the grandson of Ahmad al-Rifa'i, Ali Abu Shubbak al-Rifa'i, was buried within it, and the place was converted into a Zawiya for the Rifa'i tariqah. This Zawiya became known as the Al-Bayda Zawiya, and it not only contained the tomb of Ali Abu Shubbak, but also included the tomb of another Sufi mystic, Yahya al-Ansari.

The present structure of the Al-Rifa'i Mosque was constructed in two phases over the period between 1869 and 1912 when it was finally completed. It was originally commissioned for Hoshiyar Qadin, the mother of the 19th century Khedive Isma'il Pasha to expand and replace the old Zawiya. Hoshiyar ordered an extensive renovation of the zawiya, and so the original structure save for the graves of Ali Abu Shubbak and Yahya al-Ansari was demolished. The new structure was also intended to contain the burial place of the Khedive family.

The original architect was Hussein Fahri Pasha, a distant cousin in the dynasty founded by Muhammad Ali of Egypt in 1803,[1] but he died during the first phase of construction, and work was halted after the abdication of Khedive Isma'il Pasha in 1880. Hoshiyar Qadin herself died in 1885, and work was not resumed until 1905 when the new Khedive, Abbas II of Egypt, ordered its completion. Construction work was supervised by the Hungarian architect Max Herz, head of the Committee for the Conservation of the Monuments of Cairo.

The two minarets of the mosque were distinguished by grace and beauty, and it is worth noting that it was the first building that used cement in its construction in the history of Islamic architecture and that was an indication of the transition to the modern era.

Ismailia Monuments Museum

Ismailia Monuments Museum 

The Ismailia National Museum, a magnificent testament to Egypt's rich history and cultural heritage, stands proudly as one of the oldest regional museums in the country. Located in the Al-Afrang neighborhood of Ismailia governorate, this esteemed institution opened its doors in 1932, housed within a building that pays homage to the iconic Greco-Roman architecture of Egypt.

The Ismailia Museum of Antiquities, which was first opened to the public in 1934 AD, and is considered one of the oldest regional museums in Egypt. The idea of ​​establishing it came at the end of the 18th century, and coinciding with the Suez Canal Excavation Project (1859-1869 AD), when the French archaeologist "Jean Cledat” who carried out excavations in archaeological sites around the Suez Canal region and North Sinai. 

As all excavation work was at the time, funded and supported by the International Suez Canal Company, and under the supervision of "Maspero", the director of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority, and when the monuments resulting from the excavation work were accumulated, the idea of ​​allocating a place to put these artifacts was suggested, and through Numerous administrative correspondence between "Cledat" and Ferdinand De Lesseps, the idea of ​​establishing the museum came to light.

The Ismailia Museum of Antiquities was officially inaugurated on the 13th of February 1934 AD, and was opened to the public on the 4th of March of the same year, and it is located in the Khan El Franj neighborhood, one of the old neighborhoods in Ismailia.

Museum of Antiquities in Ismailia received a sandstone stela dating back to the 26th dynasty, that kings erected during military campaigns towards the east. It was discovered by a citizen in his farm & he immediately notified the Tourism and Antiquities Police.

The museum includes about 3800 artifacts covering various historical stages of Egyptian civilization. Among the most important pieces that have been unearthed in Ismailia Governorate is a granite statue of the Sphinx from the era of the Middle Kingdom, and a marble sarcophagus of a person named "Jed Hur" dating back to the Ptolemaic era, in addition to a harem from the era of King Ramses II, it was uncovered in the eastern city of Qantara during the digging works of the Suez Canal.

Suez Canal Museum

For over a century and a half, the first administrative headquarter of the Suez Canal Company in Ismailia has been an evidence of superior artistic mastery. It was constructed by the French upon a resolution from the renowned diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps in 1862, while Khedive Ismail was keen to officially inaugurate the building himself in 1869. The historical building is considered an architectural masterpiece due to its magnificent design. 

It combines both Arab Islamic and European architectural styles, as it consists of a rectangular space, with a large central patio which the building units, over a hundred chambers, overlooks. The building covers an area of 10,000 square meters, with a basement of 1200 square meters, and a usable area of 5,500 square meters, while the remaining space is occupied by gardens and corridors.

The building witnessed decisive moments, years of challenge and the resilience of minds behind the Suez Canal project’s planning and execution. As one of the very first buildings constructed by the administration of the Suez Canal during the excavation of the project, the building was a major focal point for the project's management.

 Also, the building itself witnessed multiple expansions in 1906, 1911, 1920, 1924 and 1946, till it witnessed the Nationalization in 1956, when its offices witnessed the first spark of the nationalization epic. The resolution of turning the ancient historical building into a universal museum of the Canal came out of the Suez Canal Authority's keenness on immortalizing and reviving the Canal's history.

The museum comprises historical collectables and up to 2000 artefacts exhibited in 12 exhibition halls, telling the story of the Canal from its excavation until present time.

Al Moez Ldin Allah Al Fatmi street in Old Cairo

Al Moez street  Old Cairo

Al-Muizz Street is named after the Fatimid Caliph, al-Muizz li-Din Allah (341–365 AH / 953–975 AD), who first founded this street. He is also the founder of the Fatimid caliphates in Egypt since he ruled Egypt in (358-365AH\ 969-975AD). Today, it is the largest open-air museum for Islamic monuments in the world, and a unique heritage site that was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. The street has borne many names over the centuries, and in 1937 it came to be known as al-Muizz in honour of the founder of Cairo.

The historical street stretches between two of the gates of Cairo’s old city walls, from Bab al-Futuh in the north to Bab Zuwayla in the south, passing along many of the significant and uniquely preserved ancient alleys and streets, such as Amir al-Guyush Street, Darb al-Asfar, Borgowan Alley, Khan al-Khalili, and al-Ghuriyya.

Twenty-nine monuments dotting the length of al-Muizz allow visitors to experience Islamic Egypt from the 10th to 19th centuries, starting from the Fatimid Period in Egypt (358–567 AH / 969–1171 AD) to the Muhammad Ali Dynasty (1220–1372 AH/ 1805–1953 AD). These monuments include buildings of various types, such as those that had a religious, domestic, commercial, or defensive function. Today, markets, vendors, and local crafts stores line up along al-Muizz ​street, adding to the charm of this historic street.

Hammam of Sultan Inal

Monument No. 562 Sultan al-Ashraf Abu al-Nasr Sayf al-Din Inal commissioned this bathhouse in 861 AH / 1456 AD, during the Mamluk Period. The structure was an important social institution. Like the architecture of Islamic bathhouses, the dog-leg corridor just beyond the entrance gives privacy and opens onto a cool room. 

Here, customers removed their clothes and prepared to bathe, where a number of seating areas and lockers for keeping personal belongings. From here they went into the warm room, where they could rest and enjoy refreshments before entering the steamed basin room. They left the same way they came out, adjusting their body temperature with the changing atmosphere of each chamber. The domes punctured with apertures of stained glass contributed to temperature regulation to circulate warm air and illuminate the building. The bathhouse got its water from a well through a waterwheel (saqiya), which raised this water to the furnace at the back of the building. Waste was burned in the furnace, which thus warmed the water in a large container that was then pumped to the different parts of the bath through pottery pipes and metal spouts.

Madrasa and Mausoleum of al-Saleh Najm al-Din Ayyub

This is one of the most important architectural installations dating to the Ayyubid period.  It is located between al-Qasrayn (the two palaces) on al-Muizz Street. Built in the year 641 AH / 1243 AD, it became known as the Salhiyya Madrasa, referring to its eponym Sultan  al-Salih Nagm al-Din Ayyub. This madrasa was the first institution of its kind to teach all four schools of jurisprudence, replacing the Shi’ite curriculum that had been in place under the Fatimid Dynasty.​ Each of the four schools of jurisprudence has its own allocated area inside the madrasa.

The main façade and distinctive minaret above the entrance still surive. Only the western iwan, in which the Malik madhhab was taught, remains standing. The mausoleum was built in 647 AH\ 1249 AD by Sultana Shajarat al-Durr, wife of Sultan Najm al-Din Ayyub. She commissioned the structure for her husband following his death in the battle against the Crusaders in Mansura. He was buried in al-Rawda Citadel and later removed to the mausoleum when it was completed in 648 AH\ 1250 AD. 

The dome has one main façade with an entrance overlooking al-Muizz Street. A plaque above the main entrance records the date of the Sultan’s death. The wooden cabin inside the dome is a good example of Ayyubid wooden antiques.

El Moez Le Din Allah Street 

It’s a kind of places you will never find a look like. Its full of warm feelings and the odor of long history”… it is one of the oldest streets in Egypt.When the Fatimid reign (969-1171) settled in Cairo under the leadership of El Moez Li-Dinellah it was called "Cairo of El Moez" because they decorated its four suburbs with luxurious buildings, delightful spots and gardens. This increased its delightfulness and beauty. It was the settlement of rulers and princes.  

El Moez Le Din Allah Street is an eloquent witness for historical Cairo with the various monuments spread along both sides of the street. You are walking along history when you walk in Al Moez Street, The most beautiful Islamic street in Cairo, Islamic monuments & mosques are on each side of El Moez Street, there you can visit El Hakem Mosque 1000 years ago ,El Aqmar Mosque. Also in Al Moez Street, you can see Souk, wekala, hamam, khan, hotel, palace, mosque, khankah, college, citadel and fort are flourishing historical Cairo.

Baron Empain Palace Cairo

Baron Empain's palace, with its Indian style and tower, stands out in the desert landscape, distinct from the rest of the city. The palace reflects the high status of its owner and marks a major milestone in the urban landscape of Heliopolis. Baron Empain's palace is the most prominent of monuments in the capital, its unique and innovative image attracts crowds of pedestrians on the road.

It was founded by Edward Louis Joseph Empain between 1907 and 1911. He was a Belgian businessman who was awarded the title "Baron" by the King of Belgium on account of his economic contributions. The French architect Alexander Marcel was tasked with building this masterpiece.

The interior design of the palace consists of a basement and two floors topped by a roof. The palace is surrounded by a large garden from all sides. As for the basement, it contained a residence for the palace's servants, and consisted of a group of rooms connected by corridors.and doors. The palace building is surrounded by a spiral staircase and an elevator that connects all the palace floors with the basement.

The ground floor consists of a reception room, a dining room, and a billiard room. As for the first floor, it houses four rooms, each with its own balcony and bathroom.  Finally, the roof of the palace comes as an open space on one of the sides of the tower, characteristic of the Baron Palace.

Baron Empain chose the site of Masr al-Gadida at the beginning of the twentieth century in agreement with Boghos Nubar Pasha. Both men agreed that the site was perfect for Baron Empain’s city of dreams, which he sought to build east of Cairo and overlooking the old city, specifically near Matariyya and the ruins of Heliopolis. This vision was one of the most successful architectural executions witnessed by the twentieth century. This vision turned the desert into a lively neighborhood fully furnished with services and encompassing different groups of society.

Heliopolis was also the crucible of several new and innovative architectural styles, which merged the Islamicm Hindu, and European styles. Baron Empain’s palace, constructed in 1911 AD, is a testimony to this diversity, as its French architect, Alexander Marcel, was inspired by Cambodian temples. 

The beautiful city of Heliopolis was designed not only to revive Egypt’s rich Islamic heritage. Rather, Baron Empain and Boghus Nubar had the intention of creating a global, comprehensive city.

Baron Empain's palace, Heliopolis

A unique structure ornamenting the neighbourhood's urban landscape. It is one of the most architecturally exquisite buildings in Egypt, and one of its historical and touristic landmarks. The building's original colour and shine was restored following a complete restoration project. The palace includes an exhibition of a diverse assortment of documentary and archival photographs, plans, and maps of the structure, in addition to information panels narrating the history of Heliopolis across the ages. The panels, which will be complemented by videos and photographs displaying daily urban life in this unique time period,  will also recount the history of several other heritage sites in the area.

FREE ENTRY POLICY 

Free entry for children below 6 years. 

Free entry for Egyptians with special needs. 

Free entry for Egyptians above 60 years. 

Photography with mobile phone is free of charge.

Citadel of Saladin Cairo Egypt

Citadel of Saladin Cairo 

The Citadel of Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin) is one of the most iconic monuments in Islamic Cairo, and among the most impressive defensive fortresses dating to the Middle Ages. Its strategic location on the Muqattam Hills gave it a formidable defensive position, and offered, as it still does today, an unrestricted panoramic view of Cairo. 

Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi was the first to order the construction of a fortress over the Muqattam Hills in (572 AH/ 1176 AD), but it was not completed during his lifetime. This was achieved during the reign of Sultan al-Kamel ibn al-Adel (604 AH/1207 AD) who decided to reside in it, making it the official residence of the rulers of Egypt. In the mid-nineteenth century, Khedive Ismail moved the official residence to Abdeen Palace in downtown Cairo. 

The Citadel Sultan Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi witnessed some of the most significant events in Egyptian history from the time it was built to the end of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, which was in power from the early nineteenth century until the 1952 revolution, when the modern Egyptian republic was born. Many monuments were added to the Citadel over the centuries, providing visitors today with an array of places to visit, such as the Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, which dominates the Citadel. Other places to visit include the mosque of the Mamluk sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun, the Ottoman-era Sulayman Pasha al-Khadim Mosque, as well as a number of museums such as the Police Museum, Al-Jawhara Palace Museum, and the Military Museum.

A fortress built by Salah El Din (Saladin) in Egypt at the time of the Crusades The Citadel of Salah El Din is a medieval Islamic-era fortification in Cairo. Subsequent Egyptian rulers built upon its foundations for the next 700 years, including Qaitbay in the 14th century and Muhammad Ali Pasha (then governor of Egypt) after the French occupation of Egypt in 1801. The fortress city contains many distinctive features, including towers and ramparts, gates, walls and courtyards, Iwan (a rectangular hall space) and alleys, houses and administrative buildings, and mosques and tombs. The Citadel was built on a promontory that overlooked the Eastern Harbor of Old Cairo. It served as a royal residence and a stronghold in times of conflict. The enclosure is surrounded by inner and outer walls, the latter with towers at intervals. There are six entry gates: Bab al-Futuh (Victory Gate), Bab Zuweila (Oxford Gate or Tower of Rohan), Bab al-Nasr (Gate of Victory), Bab al-Fath (Gate of Conquests), and Bab al-Maqam Ibrahim Agha (Damascus Gate).

Muhammed Ali mosque 

When Muhammed Ali came to power, he was determined to erase the influence of the Mamluks, who had controlled Egypt for six centuries before him, and demolished their palaces within the fortress. He also built one of Cairo’s most recognizable landmarks. His Alabaster Mosque, built in memory of a deceased son, towers over the rest of the complex. 

Its silhouette is the most dominant feature of Cairo’s eastern skyline. In addition to these two mosques, the Citadel also contains the National Military Museum, full of uniforms and weapons from Egypt long history, a Police Museum, and several more museums dedicated to the palace of Muhammed Ali.

Gawhara Palace 

Also of great beauty is the Gawhara Palace or Bijou Palace, built to be the personal residence of Mohammed Ali. It is currently one of the best displays of Ottoman architecture that can be seen in Cairo. It is named in honor of the Governor’s wife, Gawhara Hanem.

Al-Gawhara Palace, also known as Bijou Palace, is a palace and museum in Cairo, Egypt. The palace is situated south of the Mosque of Muhammad Ali in the Cairo Citadel. It was commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha in 1814.

Military Museum at Cairo Citadel 

The Military Museum at Cairo Citadel building erected in 1827 served as the residence of the royal family in Egypt until 1874. It was a military hospital in the British occupation of World War II and returned to Egyptian control in 1946. The palatial decor is impressive, be sure to check it out.

Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque 

The mosque is the only Mamluk building still in existence at the Citadel in Cairo. It was built between 1318 and 1335 and is close to the Mohammed Ali Mosque. The attraction has two entrances: one was used by soldiers and the other exclusively by the sultan.

The mosque of Sultan al­Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun

In the Citadel of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin) in Cairo, was the royal mosque during the Mamluk Period. It is located in the Citadel’s southern section. The Mamluk sultan, al-Nasir Muhammad, has ordered this mosque be built in 718 AH/ 1318 AD. He rebuilt it in 735 AH/1335 AD. This mosque was highly cherished by subsequent Mamluk sultans, and used by the Mamluk occupants of the Citadel.

The mosque is among the most prominent monuments within the citadel, it is consists of an open court surrounded by four porticos. The mosque has two minarets, the tops of the two minarets and dome were once covered in green tiles, and are influenced by an eastern Islamic style. The inside of the dome is decorated with a banner of Qur’anic verses, the titles of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad, and the date of rebuilding the mosque. 

The ceiling of the mosque is decorated with beautiful geometric shapes. The ornate minbar (pulpit) is made of wood, inlaid with ivory and mother-of-pearl, and inscribed with the name of King Farouk. The mosque was used as storage and prison during the British occupation of 1882 AD. This led to its destruction, but it was subsequently restored in 1948 AD.

How to get there? 

The Citadel is located in the heart of Cairo, Egypt, and is one of this area's most popular tourist attractions. The Citadel's construction began in 1176 AD when Sultan Abdel Mumin conquered Egypt and was completed by his son Al-Malik al-Afif. The Citadel sits on a 30-acre land with a perimeter wall that is 1.5 miles long and consists of nine towers. The best way to get there is to take a taxi from outside the airport, or you can use public transportation, which will take about an hour. If you are not renting a car, we recommend taking the Metro from Tahrir Square station to Rameses Station, where you can change trains for Mohandessin station and then take a taxi to see the Citadel (about 20 minutes).

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