Salah El-Din Citadel

About the Site

The Citadel was founded by Salah El-Din (Saladin) in 1176 to defend Cairo against the Crusaders, and remained the seat of Egypt's rulers for almost 700 years.

Inside its walls are the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the 14th-century Mosque of al-Nasir Muhammad, the Police and Military museums and a terrace with sweeping views over Islamic Cairo to the pyramids.

Visiting tips

Allow two to three hours, and walk down to the Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa'i mosques afterwards.

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