Al-Darb al-Ahmar, Historic neighborhood in Cairo, Egypt
Al-Darb al-Ahmar contains sixteen significant Islamic monuments, including mosques, schools, and palaces spread across narrow streets and traditional buildings.
The district expanded during the 14th century under Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad's rule, developing south of Cairo's original city walls as an urban center.
The neighborhood maintains ancient handicraft markets that have operated continuously for seven centuries, preserving traditional Egyptian craftsmanship through generations.
The area connects directly to Al-Azhar Park, where visitors can find parking facilities and access the 1.5-kilometer-long restored Eastern Ayyubid City Wall.
More than 500 historic homes underwent rehabilitation through the Aga Khan Trust for Culture program, which integrated local residents into restoration projects.
GPS coordinates: 30.04140,31.25840
Latest update: March 28, 2025 03:47
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
635 m
Khan el-Khalili
752 m
Al-Hussein Mosque
844 m
Al-Azhar Park
606 m
Islamic Cairo
659 m
Bab Zuweila
166 m
Museum of Islamic Art
656 m
Sultan Al-Ghuri Complex
532 m
Sultan Al-Muayyad Mosque
208 m
Al-Mansour Qalawun Complex
938 m
House of Zaynab Khatun
623 m
Wikalet Al-Ghuri
532 m
Aqsunqur Mosque
616 m
Muhammad Bek Abu El Dahab Complex
604 m
Al-Salih Tala'i Mosque
106 m
Salihiyya Madrasa
906 m
Bayt Al-Razzaz palace
441 m
Mosque of Amir al-Maridani
204 m
Mahmud al-Kurdi Mosque
93 m
Mosque of al-Malika Safiyya
409 m
Amir Qijmas al-Ishaqi Mosque
93 m
Amir Khayrbak Funerary Complex
684 m
Qasaba of Radwan Bey
107 m
Madrasa of Umm al-Sultan Sha'ban
487 m
Mosque of Taghribirdi
833 m
Mausoleum of Tarabay al-Sharifi
818 m
Sabil-Kuttab-Wikala of Sultan Qaitbay
576 m
Mosque, madrasa and tomb of sheikh al-Islam al-Alama Badr ad-Din al-Aini
599 mReviews
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