Salah El Din Citadel is a medieval Islamic fortress that is located on Mokattam hill near Cairo. It is now a historical site with mosques and museums. It was established in the 12th century by the famous Arabian leader Saladin. It can be easily reached by any public transportation. It is located near many touristic attractions like the Egyptian Museum and the Sultan Hassan mosque. Here all things about Salah El Din citadel:
Salah El Din Citadel
History of Salah El Din Citadel
The great leader Salah El-Din started to construct this superb citadel in 1176 A.D when he ordered his vizier Bahaa El-Din Karakosh to destroy all the buildings and tombs in the location. The construction workers had to dig a tunnel between Mokattam and the cliff that hosted the citadel. Salah El-Din also had to dig a water well so that soldiers find their water supply. It was a very hard mission, as they had to dig for more than 90 meters inside a hard rock that’s why it took a lot of time from them to accomplish such a mission.
Location of Cairo Citadel
The location of Salah El Din Citadel was so important to Salah El-Din as it was located between two capitals of Cairo at that time, El-Fustat and Cairo. The builder of such a magnificent work didn’t have a chance to witness the greatness of his work as he passed away in 1193 and Karakosh was the one who completed it in 1204. Karakosh’s brother El-Malek El-Adel was the first king to take the citadel to be his residence.
Architecture of Saladin Citadel
Salah El Din Citadel has two sections, the northeastern section which represents the military fortifications and the southwestern one, which represents the royal city through its mosques and palaces. It also has many gates to facilitate getting in and out to the soldiers. The most important gate id Mokattam gate, which is now known as Salah Salem gate that was established in the Ottoman era.
It is the main entrance of the gate nowadays. Mohamed Ali Pasha has also established the new gate in 1827 to facilitate all cars and canons to enter the citadel easily. There is a unique architectural piece in the citadel, which is the Josef water well that has two deep holes in the ground. This amazing Citadel continued to be the seat of government for about seven centuries.
Khedive Isma’il made the ‘Abidin palace located outside the citadel the official seat of his rule in 1874 A.D. As long as the citadel has been the residency place for many kings and sultans, there are a lot of establishments by those kings inside the citadel.
Attractions in Salah El Din Citadel
- Mohamed Ali Mosque: Mohamed Ali mosque is the most important highlight in the citadel. Its construction started in 1830 and finished in 1849. Its style follows the Ottoman Style, especially the mosques of Istanbul. The best thing about this amazing mosque is the marble that surrounds the mosque’s walls, the Mihrab, and the Manbar.
- Qasr El-Jawhara: It is also called Jewel palace that was named after Mohamed Ali’s wife. It consists of two floors and has a simple style. The most important memory of this place is related to the massacre of Mohamed Ali to the Mamluks when he invited them to have dinner and then ordered his men to kill them. It also contains the throne of Muhammad Ali Pasha that was a gift from the King of Italy.
- The Panorama of Cairo: It is the most attractive part of the citadel where you can enjoy watching awesome monuments such as the Mosque of Sultan Hassan and the Mosque of El-Refaie from this magnificent area.
- The Military Museum: It shows the military history from the prehistoric time until the 1970s.
- The Carriage Museum: It houses a group of unique royal carriages. It dates back to the reign of Khedive Ismail until the reign of King Farouk.
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FAQ
What Should I Wear While Being in Egypt?
You should wear whatever you want. It is advised to wear something light from cotton or linen, comfortable and put on sunblock during your time in Egypt in the summer and wear comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the sandy terrain.
What to Pack for Your Egypt Tour?
You should bring a brimmed hat and sunglasses if you not used to the Egyptian sun &pack everything you could ever need and put in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
Are All Nile Cruises Available at Any Time?
Yes, it is available all years. as the Nile from Aswan to Luxor takes three to four days of sailing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the total cost of 600$ and the Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan take four to five days in Saturday, Monday and Thursday for the coast of 650$.
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Is it safe to travel to Egypt?
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What are Egypt's Visa Requirements?
They are very simples, If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries(check the link), have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD entry fee in cash. As for the E-Visa for 30 days, you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could be one of the countries eligible for a free visa for 90 days.
What is the Weather is Like?
The temperature of Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c, Summer in Egypt is somehow hot and winter is cool and mild but sometimes it becomes cold at night. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 ¡ÆC in the wintertime to 23 ¡ÆC in the summertime and average high temperatures vary from 17 ¡ÆC in the wintertime to 32 ¡ÆC in the summertime while the temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
What is the Best Time of Visit Egypt?
It is known the best time to travel to Egypt is in the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a bit tropical, a warm atmosphere with a winter breeze. You will also be notified a week before your trip if the weather is unsafe or if any changes have been made.
Should I Give Tips in Egypt?
It is totally up to you, but if you choose to you can tip the servers at your restaurant 5-10% by handing it to them directly and 5 Egyptian Pounds as a general tip of anyone.
Can I Enter the Pyramids?
Yes, you can enter the pyramids for the small fee of 20$.
How to Enjoy Egypt During Ramadan?
Ramadan is a special time of year for Muslims that should be celebrated by non-Muslims and feel the essence of the Islamic culture. You can fast with the Muslim or just observe but you are always welcome to join the celebrations and festivals.
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