City of the Dead, Cemetery district in Cairo, Egypt.
The City of the Dead extends for four miles, containing thousands of tombs, mausoleums, and residential structures within its stone walls.
This necropolis emerged during the early Islamic period, becoming a burial ground for important figures and families throughout Egyptian history.
The cemetery functions as both a burial site and residential area, where families maintain connections with their ancestors through daily activities.
The site stands five kilometers from central Cairo, with local guides offering tours to explain the complex layout and historical significance.
Multiple generations of families reside permanently within this necropolis, creating homes around and between the ancient tombs and mausoleums.
Location: Cairo Governorate
Location: El Khalifa
GPS coordinates: 30.04670,31.27640
Latest update: May 30, 2025 00:05
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.
Al-Azhar Mosque
1.3 km
Khan el-Khalili
1.5 km
Al-Hussein Mosque
1.3 km
Al-Azhar Park
1.3 km
Islamic Cairo
1.3 km
Al-Suhaymi House
1.5 km
Madrassa of Al-Nasir Muhammad
1.5 km
Egypt's Dar al-Ifta
630 m
House of Zaynab Khatun
1.3 km
Sultan Qaytbay Complex
328 m
Al-Aqmar Mosque
1.5 km
Beshtak Palace
1.5 km
Bab al-Nasr
1.4 km
Wikalet Al-Ghuri
1.5 km
Muhammad Bek Abu El Dahab Complex
1.4 km
Salihiyya Madrasa
1.5 km
Mashyakhat al-Azhar
619 m
Sabil-Kuttab Abd El Rahman Katkhuda
1.5 km
Mosque and Khanqah of Farag ibn Barquq
353 m
Khanqah-Mausoleum of Sultan Barsbay
119 m
Madrasah Al Kamiliya
1.5 km
Emir Qurqumas Complex
170 m
Wikala of Qaytbay
1.4 km
Gamal Eddin Youssef Istadar Mosque
1.3 km
Wikala of Qawsun
1.4 km
Sabil-Kuttab-Wikala of Sultan Qaitbay
1.4 km
Mosque, madrasa and tomb of sheikh al-Islam al-Alama Badr ad-Din al-Aini
1.3 km
Egyptian Textile Museum
1.5 kmReviews
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