Mosque of Ibn Tulun
Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Islamic prayer house in Cairo, Egypt
The mosque spans 26,318 square meters with a central courtyard, four porticoes, and exterior walls featuring pointed arch windows and geometric crenellations.
Built in 876 AD by Ahmad ibn Tulun, the Turkish governor of Egypt and Syria, this structure remains the second oldest existing mosque in Egypt.
The interior displays extensive stucco decorations with geometric patterns and vegetal designs across 128 windows, reflecting influences from the Great Mosque of Samarra.
Visitors can access the mosque daily through the main entrance, with separate areas designated for prayer and tourism activities.
The spiral minaret, constructed with an external staircase, stands as the only remaining structure from the ancient city of Qata'i.
Location: Cairo Governorate
Location: Cairo
Inception: 876
Architectural style: Islamic architecture
Part of: Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun, The Citadel Area, The Fatimid Nucleus of Cairo, Necropolis
Address: Ahmed Ibn Tolon Sq., Tolon, El Sayeda Zeinab, Cairo Governorate 4261342, Egypt
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 09:00-16:00
Website: https://egymonuments.gov.eg/en/monuments/ahmad-ibn-tulun-mosque
GPS coordinates: 30.02875,31.24953
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:27
Cairo preserves an architectural heritage spanning over fifteen centuries. This collection includes religious buildings, traditional houses, and utilitarian structures that reflect the Fatimid, Mamluk, and Ottoman periods. Mosques such as Sultan Hassan with its 68-meter minaret stand alongside ancient homes with mashrabiya windows, while the 9th-century Nilometer highlights the river's importance in Egyptian society. The route passes through various historic districts, from El Khalifa with its medieval monuments to Ottoman houses from the 16th and 17th centuries like Bayt Al-Suhaymi or those housing the Gayer-Anderson Museum. Aqsunqur Mosque stands out with its Iznik tiles showcasing floral motifs, a legacy of Ottoman influence. The City of the Dead, a cemetery stretching four kilometers, illustrates the continuity between burial sites and inhabited areas. Green spaces like Al-Azhar Park offer views of a dense city where traditions blend with everyday life.
Cairo is home to millennia of history. The Giza Pyramids, built between 2686 and 2494 BC, stand alongside Fatimid mosques like the Ibn Tulun Mosque from 879, and Mamluk fortifications such as Saladin's Citadel from the 12th century. Religious heritage reflects community diversity: Saint Serge Church dates to the 4th century, while Sainte-Marie Church from the 7th century reuses elements of the Roman fortress of Babylon. The Cairo Museum, opened in 1902, displays over 120,000 archaeological artifacts including Tutankhamun’s burial mask. Khan Al-Khalili market, established in 1382, continues traditional trade along its alleys lined with spice and craft shops. The Gayer Anderson House exemplifies 16th-century Ottoman residential architecture. These sites span Egypt’s history from pharaonic antiquity to the Ottoman period.
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