The Muhammed Ali Mosque

But when Muhammed Ali took power, he was determined to get rid of the power of the Mamluks, who had ruled Egypt for six hundred years before him. To do this, he destroyed their mansions inside the castle. He also built one of the most famous buildings in Cairo.

His Alabaster Mosque, a huge building that stands over the whole site, was built in memory of a son who had died. The silhouette of the Great Pyramid dominates the eastern skyline of Cairo. It is the most noticeable thing about the city. There is also a National Military Museum, a Police Museum, and a number of other museums connected to Muhammed Ali’s palace, all of which are inside the Citadel. The National Military Museum has uniforms and weapons from Egypt’s long history on display.

Also, behind the National Military Museum, in the Northern Enclosure, there is the third mosque. Muhamed Ali’s and Al-mosques Nasir’s are bigger, but the interior of Suleiman Pasha Mosque is very ornate and a great example of mosque architecture in the Ottoman style.

Even with all of this, the view of Cairo from the Citadel might be the best part of the trip. One can see why the city is called “The City of a Thousand Minarets” from the outside. On a clear day, you can even see the shape of the Giza Pyramids, which are quite a distance away.