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| Egypt - miSr (in arabic) |
| Cairo - Citadel |
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The history of the
Citadel (al-qala'a) is about 700 years old and it contents 3
different mosques, palaces and terraces. Saladin started to build
the citadel in 1176 to protect Cairo against the crusaders. Then
Mamluks extended the citadel by adding palaces and harems. The
Ottomans (1517 - 1798) enalarged again and build a new gate - Bab
al-Azab. In 1798 Napoleon's expecditon took control. When they
left Mohammed Ali demolished a lot, and only the Mamluc structure
were left standing. When his granson Ismail moved to Abdeen
Palace it became a military garrison. The British army were here
during WWII, and there are a small foothold of egyptian soldiers
still, but today its is crowded with tourists. But its a very
intereting trip to take through the historic places within the
walls.
(Click on the
thumbnails, and you will get a larger version)
| Looking
forward to what is waitng for us inside the walls |
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| First
visit was to the mosque of Suleiman Pasha, built in 1528 |
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| < Suleiman Pasha
mosque |
| Mohammed
Ali mosque > |
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| Courtyard
in front of Mosque of Mohammed Ali, build between 1830-48 |
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| Details
from the ceiling and the pulpit |
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| View
over Cairo from the Citadel |
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