Islamic Cairo

Islamic Cairo How old is the City of Cairo. Islamic Cairo is the Historical Heart of The City which was established in the Islamic Era by the Leader Jawhar al-Sagli, rich in Monuments , Shrines and of course it’s many Mosques. The City is an example of Islamic architecture which collected so many archetectual examples from the Umayyad, Tulund, Fatimid Ayyubid Mamluk and Ottoman Eras, and because of the architecture which highlights the Cairo Skies it is known as The City of a Thousand Minarets. The Streets and walls of the Capitol reveals the History of the People of Egypt and their Ancient Civilization that influenced humanity throughout the Ages, Cairo is one of the most culturally varied Cities and is an open Museum that includes Greek, Roman, Pharonic, Coptic and Islamic antiquities. All of the Ancient History of Cairo came as a result of it’s renowned strategiclocation, which enabled it to become the Political Capitol of Egypt throughout the Ages, as well as being the Artistic scientific and Historical Capitol of the Arab and Islamic World. When the Fatimid Dynasty conquered Egypt in 969 AD, they built a New Capitol North of the exsisting City to serve as teir administrative Centre. This new City named Al-Qahira which translates into English as The Vanquisher gave the name to the Modern Day City. However as it is no longer the Centre of Cairo. Islamic Cairo remains a living recollection of the City’s past. Many of the Old City’s walls have long disintegrated, but there are still hundreds of Monuments and striking Mosques which you will find lining the Historic arteries of Al-Qahira . Islamic Cairo is distinctive from many other Historic Districts due to the fact that it is still very much a thriving part of the City. Even though Al-Qahira was filled with Palaces and administrative constructions when it was first Built, the People of Cairo moved into the Walled City during a Twelth Century Seige and they never left. Islamic Cairo remains one of the most populated Areas of Cairo, despite the disintirgrating architecture and aging infrastructure , it’s many Monuments is interlaced into the every day lives of millions of Egyptians. When visiting Islamic Cairo it can be a formidable task. Being quite a large Area, which includes the Old Fatimid City as well as the Districts which reach South to Saladin’s Citadel and Ibn Tulun Mosque. There are simply Hundreds of Sites of different size and importance packed in along the narrow Streets, and if you can add to this the fact that it is still an actively commercial and Residential Area Islamic Cairo can present a truly big challenge. You really could spend several weeks getting lost in these Ancient Streets without running out of new Sights and experiences, although there are more casual Areas where the Tourists could put their attention to view a lot of what the Historical District has to offer in a less amount of time. Highlights of Islamic Cairo. The vast amounts of Sights in Islamic Cairo is on Al-Muizz Al-Deen Street. This Street was the main Street through the City when it was constructed in the Eleventh Century, and included Mausoleums and Palaces Built here. At the Northern Section of the Street between Bab El-Fotough and Al-Azhar Street was recently restored, and this is one of the most attractive parts of Cairo. The Qala’un Complex which is located here is one of the most impressive in the City. It is clearly easy to spend a day in the Area, and then end up in the evening at Cairo’s most famous fourteenth Century Souk which is Khan Al-Khalili. Refurbishment on the Southern Section of the Street from the Ghouriya Complex to Bab Zuweila was started in 2011, and also in the Area of Khan-El-Khalili you will find Al-Azhar Mosque. Who founded Al Azhar Mosque? And how old is it? Even though there are Hundreds of Old Mosques you can visit in Cairo there is none that can compare with Al-Azhar Mosque in constant and importance to the History of Islam. Discovered by the Fatimids in 970 AD as a Mosque which was dedicated to both Worship and Learning, it developed over the Centuries to become the most important Centres of Islamic theology and learning in the World. Al-Azhar Mosque and the University that bears it’s name draws Students from the World over to learn about the History of Islam and the different Schools of thought that Govern the interpretation of the Kora, even though it has been over a thousand years since being discovered. From it’s discovery Al-Azhar University was an Institution that revealed in pluralism. Founded by the Ismaili Shi’I Fatimid Dynasty it became a Sunni University under ensuing Dynasties in Egypt, but in spite of tensions between these different theologies Sunni and Shi’I scholars have worked, taught and debated together at Al-Azhar for most of it’s History. Today it is considered with respect throughout the World as an influential, Moderating and regulating Authority for Islamic theology. What are the most famous constructions of Islamic Cairo? In the Southern part of Islamic Cairo it offers some of Cairo’s largest Islamic Monuments. The construction of Cairo’s Citadel started under the Ayyubid General Saladin-Salah Al Deen in the Twelth Century. In the present Day the Citadel offers the most awesome views overlooking the City and several Museums which were dedicated to Egypt’s Police and Military. There are also three prominent Mosques which are inside the Walls, Al-Nasir Muhammed Mosque, Suleyman Pasha Mosque and Muhammed Ali’s Alabaster Mosque. Lying below the Citadel is the vast Sultan Hassan Mosque, constructed by a Fourteenth Century Sultan of the same name. This great Mosque is constructed as a Madrassa Religious School and displays some of the most impressive archetectual decoration in any Mosque in the City. Within walking distance of both the Citadel and Sultan Hassan is the Ibn Tulun Mosque dedicated in 872 AD, it is the Oldest Mosque in Cairo and the largest in terms of Land Area. It is a truly imposing space, due to it’s individual Samarran archetectual Style considering it was constructed when Egypt’s controllers were from Iraq , in addition the Gayer Anderson Museum are attached to the outer Walls. With the closeness of thje Citadel and Sultan Hassan Mosque to Ibn Tulun makes them very easy sights to combine into a Day of Touring. A new addition to Islamic Cairo is Azhar Park, in the 1990’s the Egyptian Government retook Land that had been used as a Landfill for Centuries to create a Park for the City. In the present Day Azhar Park offers seventy Four Acres of Park Space to a City which has few green spaces. This attractive setting offers the most fabulous views over the City and well manicured Gardens, and includes a Restaurant and Café. One of the truly memorable experiences you could have is that of watching the Beautiful Sunset from the Park whilst listening to the Calling of the Prayer from Cairo’s Thousands of Minarets.