Bab Zuweila, Medieval city gate in Islamic Cairo, Egypt.
The stone gate features two massive semi-circular towers with an arched passage connecting them, reaching a width of 4.82 meters.
Built in 1092 by Fatimid vizier Badr al-Jamali, the gate marked the southern entrance of medieval Cairo and witnessed the execution of last Mamluk Sultan Tumanbay.
The gate takes its name from the Berber Zuwayla tribe, whose Fatimid soldiers established their quarters near this defensive structure during its construction.
Visitors can access the gate daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with entrance fees of 100 Egyptian pounds for international adults and 10 for Egyptian nationals.
The two towers of Bab Zuwayla serve as bases for the minarets of the adjacent Al-Muayyad Mosque, added between 1415 and 1421.
Location: Cairo Governorate
Inception: 1092
Part of: Islamic Cairo
GPS coordinates: 30.04280,31.25780
Latest update: November 2, 2025 20:40
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.
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