'Citadel of Salah El-Din' Historical Architectural Masterpiece

Citadel of Salah El-Din  was built in 12th century.It was the seat of the king and his government in Egypt.

The Citadel was built in 1176, during the reign of Salah El-Din . However, it wasn't completed until 1182 during the reign of "El -Malek El Kamel". He was the first king to live in the citadel.

Several important monuments were built in the Citadel of Sala El-Din during it's long history includes the marvelous Mosque of Mohamed Ali, which is truly the best example of the Ottoman architecture in Egypt, as well as the Mamluk Mosque of El Nasser Mohamed, and the small charming Mosque of Suleiman Pasha El Khadim.

Mohamed Ali Mosque

The citadel hosts four more interesting museums: the Military Museum, the Police Museum, the Royal Carriages Museum, and the Qaser El Gawhara Museum.

Salah El-din also dug a water well inside the citadel to be used by the soldiers if it ever came under siege.

This well is considered as one of the most difficult constructions ever achieved during the 12th century. It was 90 meters deep and a true marvel, dug inside the hardest rocks of the Mokatam Mountain.

The Citadel of Salah El-din contains several Gates such as; El- Mokatam Gate.

This gate was named El- Mokatam Gate because it was created near the Mokatam monitoring tower of the citadel. It was constructed inside a thick wall made out of hard rocks to the South of the Tower of Mokatam. In 1785, a wall with several balconies was added to the gate during the reign of Mohamed Yakan Pasha.

It was announced by UNESCO as a part of the World Heritage Site Historic in Cairo which was the new centre of the Islamic world, reaching it's golden age in the 14th century.