The Saladin citadel was built by Salah Eldin El Ayoubi, at the end of the 12th century who was a famous king and leader, as well as the founder of the Ayubid dynasty. The citadel considered a witness to numerous historical events throughout history.
It was - for many centuries - the position of the king and his government in Egypt. The Ayyubids, Mamluks, Ottomans, and some had a twist to rule Egypt through the citadel.
The Citadel is a medieval Islamic castle in Cairo, Egypt. It is on Mokattam hill near downtown Cairo and was famous for its cool breeze and great views of the city. But now it is a preserved historical place, with mosques and museums inside.
Salah el din el ayoubi has decided that he must build a fortified citadel to protect the city from future foreign attacks. Especially during the danger of the crusaders, who were leading the military campaigns towards the Middle East during this time. Therefore much inspiration was found in the citadels of Syria and Lebanon, due to the fortified form it was, recognizing the importance of having a So massive a citadel to protect Cairo, all its resources were sent to build the military structure.
Muhammed Ali Mosque:
When Muhammed Ali came to power, he decided to remove all traces of influence from the Mamluks, who had controlled Egypt for six centuries in a row, and destroyed their palaces within the fortress. He also built one of the most identifiable monuments in Cairo.
The alabaster mosque of Mohamed Ali, built-in memory of a faded son, towers over the rest of the complex. On the other hand, the Citadel also contains the National Military Museum, full of uniforms and weapons from Egypt's long history, a Police Museum; and several more museums dedicated to the palace of Muhammed Ali.
The Citadel has several gates such as the El Mokattam Gate which received its name from being near an entrance to the Mokattam area, Bab El Hadid or the Iron Gate which was at the main gate of the citadel for allowing the cannons and Larger teams will enter the citadel. Likewise, it has two main facades, the Middle Gate, which some historians claimed was so named because it is located in the center of the two administrative buildings of Sultan El Ghoury and Sultan Qalauan.
The Saladin Citadel is a great experience that will take you on a journey in the Medievals with the glory and magnitude of it.
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