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We have breakfast in our hotel and find a taxi via the Careem application for 100 EGP to the Saladin Citadel
Today’s program is to visit the emblematic monuments of Islamic Cairo.

Our first stop is the Saladin Citadel which is built on the highest hill in Cairo.
The normal entrance fee is 550 EGP: 11 € (Price for Arabs: 60 EGP: 1.2 €)

Just after the ticket office, going towards the citadel, stop on the right, at the Sultan Nasir Mosque. It is magnificent.

We continue our way to the citadel that is already visible

The Citadel was built by the great Saladin. The purpose of the building was to protect against the crusaders. It then served as a place of residence for many Egyptian kings. Admire the magnificent architecture and the ceilings dressed in incredible gilding and paintings. It is possible to climb to the top of the citadel for a beautiful view of the city

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We take a taxi for 50 EGP towards the Rifa’i Mosque and the Madrasa of Sultan Hassan
The 2 buildings face each other leaving a magnificent alley in the middle

You have to pay 220 EGP (4.4 €) to access the two monuments. (It’s free for Arabs)

We start with the Rifa’i Mosque

Then we visit the madrasa of Sultan Hassan. Madrasa means school in Arabic. It is therefore a Muslim theological school

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at the end of the visit, we choose to go to the Ibn Tulun Mosque on foot. It is a 15-minute walk in the streets of Islamic Cairo.

The mosque is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. It is a mosque with simple and elegant architecture. Its minaret in the shape of a spiral staircase testifies to its uniqueness. It is one of the proofs of the importance of Cairo in the history of Islam.
Ahmad Ibn Tulun who built this mosque ruled Egypt from 868 to 905.

The visit to this mosque marks the end of our tour of Islamic Cairo. It’s time to eat

Of course, Cairo has other magnificent mosques that are worth visiting. Example:

• The Al-Azhar Mosque: Located just opposite Khan el-Khalili. It is one of the oldest Islamic universities in the world with Zitouna in Tunisia.
• Aqsunqur Mosque (Blue Mosque): Decorated with blue earthenware tiles, it is renowned as a hidden wonder of Islamic art
• Amr ibn al-As Mosque: Built from 642, it was the first mosque built in Egypt, and even on the African continent.

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We choose to eat at the Oldish restaurant. We settle down on the nicely decorated terrace.
We try the Hawawshi: It’s a kind traditional bread, stuffed with minced meat

We come back to our hotel for a short break. We chat with the owner. Issam is a delightful person. He is kind and cultured. We loved chatting with him.

Accommodation: Champollion Hostel
Address: 22 Mahmoud Bassiouny, Talat Harb Square, Qasr El Nile, Cairo
Location: 30°02’53.4″N 31°14’11.9″E
3 nights, from 11/11/2024 to 14/11/2024
Price: €193
Booked with Booking.com

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We heard about a family restaurant where we can eat traditional cuisine. We go there for dinner.

There is a wonderful atmosphere and a large selection of Egyptian dishes.

Depending on your taste, you can have one of the mixed dishes which includes a nice and good selection of Egyptian specialties. We also try the Mouloukhiyya (It is a thick soup made from a plant of the same name in Arabic: corète potagère in French). The quantities are extremely generous.

We had a great time.

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