Muizz Street, Medieval commercial street in Islamic Cairo, Egypt
Al-Muizz Street extends for one kilometer from Bab al-Futuh gate to Bab Zuweila gate through the stone-walled section of old Cairo.
The Fatimid dynasty established this central artery in the tenth century, making it the primary economic zone where merchants concentrated their commercial activities.
The street contains numerous religious buildings, including mosques, madrasas, and mausoleums, representing architectural styles from different Islamic periods through the centuries.
Visitors can explore the street on foot from north to south, starting at Bab al-Futuh gate and ending at Bab Zuweila, passing by Khan al-Khalili market.
The renovation project in 1997 transformed the street into a pedestrian zone with modern lighting systems that illuminate the historical structures during evening hours.
Location: Cairo Governorate
Part of: Islamic Cairo
GPS coordinates: 30.04670,31.26000
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:30
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.
Al-Azhar Mosque
282 m
Khan el-Khalili
153 m
Al-Hussein Mosque
323 m
Islamic Cairo
272 m
Al-Suhaymi House
658 m
Bab Zuweila
483 m
Madrassa of Al-Nasir Muhammad
355 m
Sultan Al-Ghuri Complex
79 m
Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq
390 m
Sultan Al-Muayyad Mosque
468 m
Al-Mansour Qalawun Complex
329 m
House of Zaynab Khatun
400 m
Al-Aqmar Mosque
574 m
Beshtak Palace
462 m
Wikalet Al-Ghuri
141 m
Muhammad Bek Abu El Dahab Complex
197 m
Al-Salih Tala'i Mosque
544 m
Salihiyya Madrasa
299 m
Sabil-Kuttab Abd El Rahman Katkhuda
471 m
Maimonides Synagogue
474 m
Hammam of Inal
444 m
Amir Qijmas al-Ishaqi Mosque
637 m
Qasaba of Radwan Bey
571 m
Madrasah Al Kamiliya
427 m
Mosque of Taghribirdi
228 m
Gamal Eddin Youssef Istadar Mosque
541 m
Sabil-Kuttab-Wikala of Sultan Qaitbay
284 m
Mosque, madrasa and tomb of sheikh al-Islam al-Alama Badr ad-Din al-Aini
378 mReviews
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