The Passenger

Khan el-Khalili is one of القاهرة’s most iconic and historic bazaars, nestled in the heart of the city’s Islamic quarter. Founded in the late 14th century during the Mamluk era by Emir Djaharks el-Khalili, the market was originally built as a caravanserai, offering a place for merchants from across the Islamic world to rest and trade their goods. Over the centuries, this busy hub evolved from a vital stop on ancient trade routes into a vibrant marketplace where history seems to linger in every winding alleyway and ornate archway.

Tucked away in the historic heart of القاهرة, the Mosque of Ibn Tulun stands as one of Egypt’s oldest and best-preserved religious monuments. Built in the ninth century by Ahmad ibn Tulun, the founder of the Tulunid dynasty, the mosque is renowned for having survived in a largely unaltered state since its construction. Its vast courtyard, elegant arcades, and striking stucco motifs make it a unique relic of early Islamic architecture, offering solace and serenity amid the vibrant chaos of the city’s labyrinthine streets.

Perched atop the Muqattam Hills, the Citadel of Saladin in القاهرة is a formidable structure built in the late twelfth century as a bastion against Crusader invasions. Its founder, Sultan Salah al-Din – better known in the West as Saladin – sought to protect both the city of القاهرة and his newly established Ayyubid regime by constructing a military stronghold. The citadel’s elevated location offers commanding views over the city, a feature that ensured its status as the political and military heart of Egypt for centuries. Its robust walls and strategic placement enabled successive rulers to exert control over القاهرة and respond effectively to threats from outside the city’s boundaries.

Al-Mu’izz street in القاهرة stands as a vivid testament to the city’s illustrious Islamic past, extending from Bab Al-Futuh in the north down to Bab Zuweila in the south. Founded in the 10th century by the Fatimids and named after Caliph Al-Muizz li-Din Allah, the street once served as القاهرة’s principal thoroughfare – a bustling artery teeming with markets, religious establishments, and governmental edifices. Over successive eras, including those of the Ayyubids, Mamluks, and Ottomans, it retained its prominence, becoming home to some of the finest masterpieces of medieval Islamic architecture and serving as the city’s commercial, social, and spiritual heart.