Sabil-Kuttab-Wikala of Sultan Qaitbay, Mamluk caravanserai in Islamic Cairo, Egypt.
The Sabil-Kuttab-Wikala of Sultan Qaitbay is a three-story stone structure with a water fountain, school rooms, and merchant spaces centered around an interior courtyard. Wooden balconies frame the courtyard and link the different levels throughout the building.
Sultan Qaitbay commissioned this structure in 1477 during the Mamluk period to serve merchants with water, education, and lodging. The project reflected broader efforts to develop Islamic Cairo's urban core during that era.
The structure reflects how Islamic charitable endowments created shared resources for water, learning, and shelter in urban neighborhoods. Today you can see how different functions were woven together in a single building to serve the community.
The complex is located next to Al-Azhar Mosque and sits within easy reach of Islamic Cairo's main streets. Lower floors are currently inhabited by residents, so approach visits with respect for the ongoing community presence in the space.
The main entrance is crowned with a three-lobed arch decorated with intricate muqarnas geometric patterns. These details remain partially visible and reveal the original craftsmanship invested in the facade.
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