Ibn Tulun Mosque

Ahmed Ibn Tulun, the governor of the Abbasid dynasty, constructed the Ibn Tulun Mosque, the second-oldest mosque still standing in Cairo, between 876 and 879 CE. The building, which is 6 acres or 2.5 hectares in size, has a huge courtyard that is interesting to explore. Ahmed Ibn Tulun was constructed as a wall between the inner sanctum and the outside world. Its Minaret is one of the most spectacular characteristics that draws many tourists. It contains a well-known spiral staircase that may be used to enter the courtyard from the outside.

Although many people consider the staircase to be dangerous, it is worth climbing if you want to see the spectacular vista. Each side of the courtyard has four chambers built up, and the attractive 13th-century fauwara or fountain lies in the middle. Numerous surviving remnants of the elaborate frieze work may be seen in the colonnades of the main court, which open onto a number of halls with small fronts.

The main prayer hall's (southern side of the court) mihrab still bears some of its original gold mosaic decoration, as well as pieces of its older stucco and wood carving design. The 40-meter-tall minaret, which has a beautiful horseshoe arch above the entrance and an inside spiral staircase, is located on the mosque's northern side. The Great Mosque of Samarra on the Tigris served as inspiration for its minarets. Walking straight along Al-Saliba Street will take you from the Sultan Hassan Mosque to the Ibn Tulun Mosque.

Address: 22 El Dohdaira, Qesm El Sayda Zeinb, Cairo

Phone: unknown

Rating: 4.5/5.0, 399 Tripadvisor reviews