The city of Cairo has witnessed many different eras, each characterized by unique architectural styles. After the Ancient Egyptians, the Islamic Period saw the birth of iconic buildings like the Mosque of Ibn Tulun and the Mosque of Sultan Hassan. These were followed by the Mamluk Period, during which structures such as the Al Rifai Mosque and the Mosque Madrassa of Sultan Barquq were constructed, boasting exquisite stone carvings, towering minarets, and intricate decorative motifs. The Ottoman era brought its own landmarks, including the Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Citadel of AlQalaa. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Cairo experienced an influx of European architectural styles due to colonial influences.
Cairo Skyline at Sunset
Despite the proximity of the Pyramids at Giza, Cairo is not an ancient Pharaonic city. In fact, as UC Berkeley architect and historian Nezar AlSaayad notes, the city’s origins are medieval except for a small area of greater Cairo. Today’s sprawling city grew out of a series of settlements following the arrival of Arab conquerors and the Islamic faith in 640 CE. Cairo’s urban landscape has rapidly evolved in the last century.
Historical Landmarks and Architectural Marvels
1. Ruins of the Roman Babylon Fortress, Coptic Cairo
Before the Arab conquest of Egypt in 640 CE, Roman fortifications existed in some parts of modern Cairo. Moreover, there was an ancient Egyptian religious complex and port at On. Today, the city’s Roman ruins lie in the Coptic or Old Cairo area. The Copts make up most of Egypt’s Christian population. Christianity came to Egypt in the first century. An Arab army under Amr Ibn Al-As conquered Egypt and introduced the Islamic faith in 640 CE. Egypt’s new rulers founded a settlement known as Al Fustat (Arabic for “the tents”) in 641.2. Mosque of Ibn Tulun Complex
Built by its namesake, Ahmad Ibn Tulun, between 876 and 879 CE, this grand mosque is Cairo’s oldest functioning Islamic monument. It is also the last remnant of Al Katai, founded by Ibn Tulun of Egypt’s Tulunid dynasty (868-905). Ahmad Ibn Tulun was the son of an enslaved member of the Abbasid caliph’s service in their capital of Samarra in Iraq. By the tenth century, the Fatimids replaced the Abbasids and Tulunids as Egypt’s rulers. The Fatimids founded Al-Qahira (The City Victorious), the origin of the word “Cairo” in 969.
Mosque of Ibn Tulun
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For centuries, Al-Qahira remained a separate settlement from Fustat. Al-Qahira, or Cairo, remained separate from Fustat and was reserved exclusively for the Fatimid ruling elite. While later dynasties connected both cities, there are reminders of Fatimid Al-Qahira’s private palace-city origins to this day.
3. Al Azhar Mosque
Al Azhar is one of Cairo’s oldest surviving mosques, founded in 970 CE by the Fatimids. Indeed, the mosque was meant to be one of the centerpieces of the new Fatimid palace city of Cairo. Al Azhar’s story is also a good place to discuss Egypt’s shifting religious makeup. Unlike early Arab dynasties, the Fatimids were followers of Shi’a Islam. Writer Tim Mackintosh-Smith notes that Napoleon sought to impress the leadership of Al Azhar when the French arrived in 1798.
4. The Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali
The fortress called the Citadel has commanded Cairo’s defenses since its twelfth-century construction. However, Shagarat al-Durr is the most unique ruler to live at the Citadel. Due to a succession crisis, Shagarat al-Durr became Egypt’s sultana for roughly two months in 1250. As AlSayyad explains, the Mamluks were a clan of enslaved military personnel initially brought to Egypt from areas like the Caucasus to serve the Ayyubid dynasty. The Mamluks had become so indispensable that no Egyptian ruler could govern without their consent.
The Citadel also became important in the story of Egypt’s last ruling dynasty, established by Muhammad Ali Pasha in the nineteenth century. Muhammad Ali Pasha and his successors were technically autonomous vassals of the Ottoman Empire until 1919. Indeed, the Citadel is the site of a grand mosque built by Muhammad Ali Pasha. Also known as the Alabaster Mosque, it was built in the final years of his reign between 1830 and 1848. Moreover, one could say the Citadel is where Muhammad Ali Pasha’s dynasty began.
Mosque of Muhammad Ali in Cairo
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5. Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hasan and Ar-Rifai Mosque
Indeed, conspiracies and murders are common events in Egypt’s political history. The fate of the last Mamluk leaders in the nineteenth century is like the story of Egypt’s fourteenth-century sultan, Hasan. For example, after a brief reign, conspiring generals murdered Sultan Hasan. The young Sultan Hasan began constructing the mosque in 1356 near the Citadel. According to Nezar AlSaayad, work continued for five years until financial and political issues halted construction. The Ar-Rifai Mosque stands opposite the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hasan.
6. Bab Zuweila Gate
Like virtually any ancient or medieval city, Cairo’s rulers built impressive city walls. Three city gates are of note and can be seen today. First, there is Bab al-Futuh (Gate of Conquest). Next, there is Bab al-Nasr (Gate of Victory). Bab Zuweila underwent a series of renovations under Egypt’s succession of rulers. It was initially built in the twelfth century. Moreover, Bab Zuweila became the site of the symbolic fall of the Mamluk caliphate and the rise of Ottoman rule in Egypt.
7. Khan Al Khalili
Today’s souvenir stalls and shops do not convey the significance of the winding medieval alleyways of the open-air market known as Khan Al Khalili. In fact, this market is a remnant of Cairo’s past as a significant global commercial center. Although prolific warriors, the Mamluks’ source of wealth was not military conquest but trade. Indeed, as Tim Mackintosh-Smith points out, the Mamluks partnered with the Venetians to control the east-west trade across the Mediterranean.
Khan Al Khalili Market
8. The Egyptian Museum
The iconic, pink-powdered palace that is the Egyptian Museum first opened in 1902. The museum built upon earlier traditions of preserving Egypt’s antiquities. Sadly, few archaeologists listened to the Egyptian ruler’s prohibition. Mariette’s collection of Egyptian antiquities became the basis for the collection displayed at the Egyptian Museum in 1902. It continued until Egyptian authorities began transporting exhibits to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza.
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The Egyptian Museum is one of the city’s monuments dating from the days of the so-called “Veiled Protectorate.” Although still nominally part of the Ottoman Empire, Britain was the real power in Egypt by the final decades of the nineteenth century. Indeed, British officials remained in positions of power even after Egypt achieved a semblance of independence in 1919.
9. Baron Empain Palace, Heliopolis
Baron Empain designed the neighborhood of Heliopolis as a “garden city” for Cairo’s colonial bureaucrats and elites. The palace features eclectic architectural influences, including features inspired by famous landmarks like the Temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Baron Empain Palace, Heliopolis
10. Cairo Tower
Cairo Tower is a testament to its visionary, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser (President of Egypt 1954-1970). An Egyptian nationalist since his youth, Nasser became a crucial player in the military revolution that deposed Egypt’s monarchy in 1952. A similar bold spirit motivated Nasser’s construction of the Cairo Tower in 1961. For instance, Nasser used American funds earmarked for weapons to build the tower instead.
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11. Ramses II Obelisk in Tahrir Square
In 2020, officials inaugurated the installation of the Ramses II Obelisk in central Tahrir Square. The obelisk, which dates from the reign of Ramses II or The Great, was moved from the San Al Hagar archaeological site. Professor and political scientist Malath Al-Agha explains that Tahrir Square is perhaps best known for its role in the country’s revolutionary movements between 2011 and 2013.
12. Said Halim Palace
Built by Italian architect Antonio Lasciac, the palace stretches across 1,800 square meters that include a garden and elaborate facades. The facade is embellished with crowned female heads, bare-breasted angels and floral motifs. Built in a grandiose style with materials imported from Italy, the palace was meant to showcase Said Halim Pasha’s wealth and importance.
13. The Al-Demerdachiyya Building
Built in 1928 by French architect Georges Parcq, it recalls the district’s bygone status as an elite neighborhood that once housed cinemas, theaters and cafes. The building also has a great central court with tall floors packed with curved balconies. If you’re in the neighborhood, the doorman will likely let you peak inside the courtyard.
14. Baehler Passage
The Baehler Passage is an Art Deco shopping arcade with ornate arches and rows of tiny shops. In its heyday, it housed haberdasheries, fine lingerie, high-end men’s wear and exclusive boutiques. The building had rigid rules about merchandise display and decor, and was the shopping destination for the city’s elite.
15. Cinema Radio
Vertical pillars line the facade, topped with a central pillar where the cinema’s name once shone in neon lights. One of Cairo’s most iconic buildings, Cinema Radio owes its name and marquee design to New York’s famous Radio City Music Hall. Legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum once sang on its stage, and the cinema was one of several legendary deco venues during Egypt’s “golden age” of cinema.
16. The Assicurazioni Generali Building
Architect Antonio Lasciac drew inspiration from Islamic and European architecture for this intricate building, originally constructed for the Italian insurance company Assicurazioni Generali. The facade is adorned with crenellations, balconies, arched windows and a two-story mashrabiya. The company’s name is inscribed in Italian and Arabic in green and gold mosaics. The building is a great example of neo-Islamic or neo-Mamluk architecture with its blend of modern and traditional features.
17. Immobilia Building
The Immobilia Building was Cairo’s first sky-scraper and a one-time prestigious address for the country’s actors, singers and artists. The modernist marvel boasts 18 floors and stands 70 meters high. Built from 1938-40, the Immobilia Building broke away from the traditional architecture commonly seen in downtown.
18. Shurbagi Building (aka Davies Bryan Building)
This striking red brick building was built by a Welshman to house his massive clothing store. It was a showstopper for its time and a fashionable destination for high-end shopping. Today the building is an iconic part of downtown with its wide, burgundy facade (made of polished red granite imported from Aberdeen). The entire facade is richly adorned with tower-like features, balconies, windows and columns. The building is topped by a pair of medieval-style towers that reflect Welsh architecture.
19. Egyptian Diplomatic Club
This gleaming neo-classical gem is an exclusive club for the city’s elites, where the diplomatic community gathers amid luxurious antiques under a sumptuous chandelier. Inside, there are saloons, grand staircases, Aubusson saloons and gilded walls. The club also boasts a collection of orientalist oil paintings featuring scenes from 19th century Egypt.
20. St. Joseph’s Church
Dating back to 1909, this Florentine-style church was once the main place of worship for Cairo’s community of Italian immigrants. Much of Cairo’s European Catholics left the country in the 1950s and 60s. But St. Joseph’s Church still conducts small services in Arabic, French and Italian. The interior is rich and ornate, with wooden benches, tall columns and stained glass windows.
21. 33 Sherif Street
Built in 1913 in a Neo Baroque style, this building at 33 Sherif Street is one of the oldest and most ornate in downtown. The facade is a gorgeous pastel blue with ornate white flourishes and detailing. The building was renovated in 2016 and has since served as a backdrop for photoshoots and films.
22. The Suares Building
This orange ochre building with Venetian-style windows is the crowning glory of downtown’s Mustafa Kamel Square. It was built in 1897 by architect Antonio Lasciac in an Italian Neo-Renaissance style. The Suares Building was the residence of banker Raphael Suares from 1844-1906.
23. Talaat Harb Square
Talaat Harb Square is filled with shops, ornate balconies and buzzing traffic. It’s a real taste of downtown Cairo.
The lack of an extensive ancient past does not diminish Cairo’s importance to Egypt’s history. In fact, many Cairenes call their city Umm Ad Dunya (the Mother of the World). When you think of Cairo, you probably picture minarets and alleys packed with crowds and spice vendors. That’s indeed what Khan el Khalili looks like. And for many visitors, the medieval souq is the main attraction before moving on to the pyramids.
Egyptians and expats, on the other hand, go into downtown mainly for errands. And the heart of Cairo isn’t the weekend hangout it was in the 1960s and 70s. Downtown is seen as crowded, dusty and packed with traffic jams. But these days, downtown is making a comeback. There’s a revival from cultural events like D-Caf hosted in once-neglected spaces to trendy cafes that draw in younger generations into forgotten sidestreets. Enterprising tour guides lead walking tours on weekend mornings when the city is quiet.
| Building | Established | Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Egyptian Museum | 1902 | Marcel Dourgnon |
| Said Halim Palace | 1900 | Antonio Lasciac |
| Al-Demerdachiyya Building | 1928 | George Parcq |
| Baehler Passage | 1929 | Leon Nafilyan |
| Cinema Radio | 1948 | Max Edrei and Garo Balyan |
| Assicurazioni Generali building | 1911 | Antonio Lasciac |
| Immobilia Building | 1940 | Gaston Rossi and Max Edrei |
| Shurbagi Building | 1912 | Robert Williams |
| Egyptian Diplomatic Club | 1908 | Alexander Mercel |
| St. Joseph’s Church | 1909 | Aristide Leonori |
| 33 Sherif Street | 1913 | N/A |
| The Suares Building | 1897 | Antonio Lasciac |
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