Fortifications of Cairo
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The fortifications of the historic city of Cairo, Egypt, include defensive walls and gates that were built, rebuilt, and expanded in different periods.
Bab al-Futuh, one of the two preserved Fatimid gates in the northern city walls, dated to 1087
Northern section of the city walls between Bab al-Nasr and Bab al-Futuh, dating from the late 11th century Fatimid reconstruction
Part of the eastern city wall, dating from the Ayyubid period (12th–13th centuries) and excavated in the last few decades (as seen from al-Azhar Park)
Bab al-Nasr, one of the northern city gates in the Fatimid walls, dated to 1087
Cairo Citadel
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The Citadel of Cairo or Citadel of Saladin is a medieval Islamic-era fortification in Cairo, Egypt. Its construction was begun by Salah ad-Din in 1176 and continued by subsequent Egyptian rulers. It w
Fortifications of Cairo
…12th century, the Ayyubid sultan Salah ad-Din (Saladin) restored the walls and began a major extension to the south. He also began construction on the Citadel of Cairo, a military complex that would serve as the center of power in Egypt for centuries afterwards. Some sections of the historic walls are still preserved…
View of the Citadel, with the Ottoman-era gate of Bab al-'Azab, and the 19th-century Muhammad Ali Mosque
View of the Citadel near the visitor entrance today. The minarets of the 14th-century Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque can be seen in the background.
The two easternmost towers, fortified by al-Kamil in 1207: the Burj al-Ramla and the Burj al-Hadid
Chamber inside the Burj al-Ramla