4- Islamic quarter
Cairo is not called the city of a thousand mosques for no reason, this route will allow you to take in the measure of the beauty and the richness of some of the most beautiful mosques.
You will end your journey by relaxing in one of the famous souks, The Khan al-Khalili.
Itinerary:
Departure in the morning by private air-conditioned car to visit:
Sultan Hassan Mosque and El Rifai Mosque.
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Two superb mosques which stand at the foot of the citadel.
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Symmetrical and identical in beauty, forming a superb, very harmonious whole.
Mosque and Madrassa of Sultan Hassan
Considered the pearl of Islamic architecture.
Built by Hassan ibn El Nasser Mohamed ibn Qalaoun in 1356, to serve as both a mosque and a madrassa (Koranic school) to teach the 4 Sunni Islamic doctrines.
An impressive entrance, the most magnificent of Islamic monuments, over 36 meters.
In the center of the mosque stands the octagonal fountain intended for ablutions.
The sultan's mausoleum included in the building. It is the largest couple mausoleum in Cairo.
The Sultan was assassinated before he saw him finished and his body was never found.
In the end, it was his son who was buried there.
The pulpit (which carries the Koran) of the mausoleum is considered to be the oldest in Egypt.
El Rifai Mosque
Right next to the Sultan Hassan Mosque stands the El Rifai Mosque.
Built at the beginning of the 20th century.
Known for the many royal tombs it houses:
Khedive Ismail, King Fouad, the last king of Egypt Farouk and the Shah of Iran Mohamed Réda Bahlawi.
Ibn Touloun mosque
It is one of the largest mosques in Egypt and the oldest which, until now, has retained its original architectural details.
One of the most magnificent monuments in Cairo dating from the 9th century.
Ahmed Ibn Touloun is the governor of Egypt under the Abassid domination who founded the Toulounid dynasty and the new capital "El Qatai".
In 878, he built the great mosque with a large open-air courtyard in the middle of which is a fountain for ablutions.
The walls of the mosque are decorated with 127 openwork stucco windows with different patterns.
It has a unique spiral minaret with an exterior staircase.
The Gayer Anderson Museum
Two houses built in the 16th and 17th centuries:
Beit El Kiridliya (The Cretan) from 1632 and Beit Amna Beint Salim from 1540.
At the end of the XXth century The 2 houses were occupied, renovated and furnished by the last owner Gayer Anderson a British.
Converted into a museum in 1937. A private collection of Major Gayer Anderson:
furniture, carpets, silks, glassware, crystal and embroidery of Arab costumes.
The museum was used in the James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me" and in many Egyptian films.
Starting point:
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Hotels in downtown Cairo or Giza.
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Departure time: 9:00 am in the morning.
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Earlier or later departures are available.
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Back to the starting point.
Cost:
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90 dollars per person.
Prices are indicative and for a minimum of 2 people.
(15% reduction from 3 to 5 people.)
Visits include:
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Entrances to the sites, trips by private vehicle and the services of a private French-speaking guide.
* Tips are not included.