Bab Zuweila, Medieval city gate in Islamic Cairo, Egypt.
Bab Zuweila is a gate featuring two massive semi-circular towers connected by an arched passage. The entrance spans about 5 meters wide and displays typical Fatimid construction with thick walls and tall openings designed for defense.
The gate was built in 1092 by Fatimid vizier Badr al-Jamali and marked the southern boundary of medieval Cairo. It became the site of major events, including the execution of the last Mamluk Sultan Tumanbay.
The gate is named after the Zuwayla Berber tribe, whose Fatimid soldiers were stationed near this fortress during construction. Today, people pass through here as a threshold marking where the old city begins, a place that shaped how Cairo developed for centuries.
The gate is accessible daily and sits at the southern end of Al-Muizz Street, where it is easy to reach on foot. It helps to arrive early in the morning to avoid crowds and explore the structure with better light and visibility.
The two towers serve as foundations for minarets of the adjacent Al-Muayyad Mosque, which were added in the early 1400s. This unusual arrangement shows how later religious structures were built upon older defensive installations.
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