This is from inside the main courtyard of the Al Azhar mosque. This is the Mamluk era madrasa and minarets.
Al Azhar University is considered to be the oldest active university anywhere.
islamic cairo
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I've been spending some time getting to
know Islamic Cairo the last few weeks, helps me learn to enjoy what can
otherwise be a chaotic and dirty city. Here are some of my favorite
pictures from my walks around there.
This is from inside the main courtyard of the Al Azhar mosque. This is the
Mamluk era madrasa and minarets.
Al Azhar University is considered to be the oldest active university anywhere.
The west face of Al Azhar mosque (L) and me with an old friend who showed up in
Cairo unexpectedly (R)
Al Azhar's marble inner courtyard (L) and the Barber's Gate (R) where new
students used to get their heads shaved
One of the many cool ceilings. This one from inside the madrasa in the
oldest part of Al Azhar
Al Azhar had some amazing stained glass windows
The view from Bab Zuweila (one of the old gates to Al Qahira) looking north at
dusk. It
is extremely dusty because of the sandstorm that blew in that day
The Bab Zuweila Gate and the top of one of the towers. I climbed up the
other one which is where the pictures come from.
The view south from Bab Zuweila. On the left is the Citadel and mosque of
Mohamed Ali (L)
There used to be a holy man who lived in the gate of Bab Zuweila. People
would come to solicit blessings and
would leave a personal effect. Among those are lottery tickets, names, and
even teeth! (R)
Inside the Al Fakahani Mosque in Islamic Cairo
The minaret and domes of the Mamluk era Sultan Barquq
The inner court of the Barquq complex (L) and the ceiling of the mausoleum (R)
The Barquq mosque
View from the minaret of Barquq mosque
There's me! And on the right, one of the old libraries.
The doorway into the Barquq complex.