Hi! Today I present to you the article about the magical Cairo trip. This time, I would like to introduce you to the ancient Cairo Citadel, which today is a vast museum complex.
Entrance Fee
The Citadel is located in the eastern part of Cairo, and we reached here by taxi. The cost of an adult entrance ticket for foreign visitors is 180 Egyptian pounds (April 2022). Interestingly, unlike many other museums in Cairo, there was no additional charge for cameras here.
Exploring the Grounds
The construction of the defensive fortress on a rocky elevation began in the year 1176. The powerful walls of the Citadel are built from the stones of the famous Egyptian pyramids. From the early 13th century, the Citadel became the official residence of the rulers of Egypt. The complex only lost this status in the mid-19th century.
The Citadel grounds house numerous diverse attractions. Not far from the entrance rises the enormous Mosque of Muhammad Ali, built in the mid-19th century. Interestingly, it is designed in the traditions of Turkish architecture and has nothing in common with traditional Egyptian architecture. Besides the grand mosque, there are several smaller iconic structures here.
While strolling through the grounds, we visited a couple of museums. One of them, the Police Museum, occupies only a few rooms. The next stop on our route was the National Military Museum, which seemed vast to me. Photography here is allowed only with a mobile phone. Near the museum building, there is a small exhibition of military equipment.
As a bonus to the journey through the history of Egypt, there is an excellent observation deck with a wonderful panorama of the multi-million city of Cairo. I read that on a clear day, you can see the outlines of the pyramids from here, but during our visit, these ancient structures were not visible.
The last thing to note is the availability of dining options within the complex. During our several-hour walk, we only came across an ice cream stand and a small cafe with bakery products. This is something to consider when planning your trip.
Here, I conclude my brief account of this ancient place. The next and final article about my trip to Cairo will be dedicated to visiting the City of the Dead.
Have a nice trip!
