As my homeland, Egypt, might be best known for its ancient Egyptian history, it’s not all about Pyramids and temples. The capital city of Cairo alone is an open museum that has all the eras and stages the country has gone through on display. Be it, the ancient Egyptian, the Fatimid Caliphate, the Ottoman Empire, Coptic Cairo, only to name a few. Last weekend, I was determined to revisit one of its prominent landmarks, the Saladin Citadel. And I’d have to say, it’s a Cairo day tour that you can’t skip.
About the Saladin Citadel
The medieval fortress, also commonly known as the Cairo Citadel, dates back to when Salah Al-Din Al-Ayouby established the Ayyubid Caliphate post ending the Fatimid dynasty. In an attempt to further fortify the city against the Crusader armies, Salah Al-Din; as known as Saladin, started building the citadel in 1176 AD and finished it by 1183 AD.
As years passed, many rulers have come to leave their prints. This is why the fortress is home to three mosques; one of which is the iconic Muhammed Ali Mosque.
Muhammed Ali Pasha attempted to demolish any sign of the Mamluks during his time of ruling. That’s why he built his Alabaster architectural masterpiece to rise above the towering fortress. The beautiful mosque is one of the most iconic sites that invades the skyline of the city; that’s something you’ll probably notice when visiting Cairo.
Apart from the mesmerizing Islamic inscriptions on the wall and the artistic architectural details, the fortress is also home to a magnificent aerial view of old Cairo. From there, you can also spot the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Cairo Tower. So, don’t forget to take a picture or two!
Useful Information
Getting there is super easy with an Uber or Careem (another ride-hailing app). The site is open for visitors from 8 AM to 5 PM; mosques are closed during Friday prayers though. As for entry tickets, they cost EGP 20 for Egyptians, or Arab tourists, and EGP 140 for other foreigners.
Need help planning your trip to Egypt? Click here to learn more about my travel planning services.
Sharing is caring!
You might also like:
If you like my content and would like to see more of it, subscribe to my newsletter here.
Nadine is an Egyptian curly-head who decided to quit the norm because it just doesn’t suit her. She ditched her 9-5 as a magazine editor to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time digital nomad and to inspire aspiring travelers to embark on their own solo adventures.
