Sultan Qalawun complex Cairo Egypt tours, prices, booking
Sultan Qalawun complex Cairo includes mosque, Madrasa, Mausoleum and Muristan. Madrasa means school and Muristan means hospital. Sultan Qalawun complex Cairo located in Al Muiz Le Din Alla Street. It is in the area of Bein El Qasrein in Cairo. The complex features decoration in the facade and an interior plan. In fact, they highlight the influence of the Syrian style. The inscription on the complex highlights that it was Sultan El-Malek El-Mansour. He was one of the Tatar or Mongol who enslaved by El-Saleh Ayyub to be his retainers or Mamluks. In fact, they known as the Bahri Mamluks. It is since they lived on the Rodah Island on the Nile in the river citadel of El-Saleh. In fact, Qalawun served as the Sultan of Egypt in 1279. Moreover, he died in 1290 during his battle against the Crusaders in Acre.
In fact, the most attractive things in Sultan Qalawun complex Cairo are indeed the portal, facade and Minaret. Moreover, the portal decorated with interlocking poly-chrome. The facade preceded by many stair-steps with Thuluth inscriptions on it. Furthermore, it also divided into several bays with arches and double-tiered windows. The Minaret of the complex has a notable design. The lower part has a square shape. The top story ornamented with stucco carvings. Moreover, the middle part designed on the Syrian style. Next to the lower part of the Minaret one can see a Malqaf or wind scoop. In fact, it helps in allowing the fresh air to get into the building.
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The complex hospital indeed was one of the most prominent structure at that time. It equipped and supplied with a great number of skillful doctors. They treated all the known diseases including dysentery and fevers. The school at Sultan Qalawun complex supplied also with various means of entertainment. This is to please the patients such as music. One can see the hospital of Qalawun in front of Khesrew Sabil. It opens with a gateway that leads to a beautiful walk with trees on its either sides. The site of the old hospital occupied now by a clinic of eye diseases. The original hospital was consisting of four arched aisles and many rooms. The rooms were surrounding a central aisle. Some parts of this building ruined now. But it is worth to visit for its carved forms around the windows and the remaining three arched aisles.
In fact, the mosque at Sultan Qalawun complex Cairo stands on one of the sides of the main street. Its facade appears between the hospital and the mausoleum. The portal of the Madrasa distinguished by its bronze polygon. And also Mamluk buildings’ doors. The ceiling beamed and offered. The interior plan of the Madrasa consists of a central courtyard with two aisles at the end of it. The arched eastern aisle of the Madrasa evokes the style of the basilican churches in Syria. This is obvious in its classical pillars. And the decoration of the double – tiered arches. There are also beautiful stucco decorations in the Madrasa. At the end of this eastern aisle stands the Mihrab that is rich glass mosaic ornaments.
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The Mausoleum at Sultan Qalawun complex Cairo found in the right side of the main entrance of the complex. The cenotaph is remarkable . This because of its unusual height and the variety of decorations. And also because of the design that distinguish the Mamluk style in the following period. The tomb features beautiful stucco carvings. They ornament the arches and the handsome wooden Mashrabiya door. From inside, the tomb has an octagon in a square shape. It supported with piers and Granite columns. The columns that were from the palace of El-Saleh Ayyub in El Roda. The ceiling offered and beamed, while the walls beautified with marble patterns. The panels inlaid with poly-chrome stone in geometric patterns. The arches of the shrine ornamented with stucco carvings.
The Mihrab of the mausoleum is facing the Qibla. It inlaid in poly-chrome marble, blind arcade and mosaic niches. The cenotaph ornamented with a beautiful Mashrabiya screen. It involves the body of Sultan Qalawun and his successor Al Nasir Mohammad. The interior design of the mausoleum is eye-catching. It is because the thickness of the Qibla wall is different from the other walls. The aim of that is to make the interior part directed to the Mecca. It is while the outer face of it goes in parallel to the street. In 1869, this mausoleum restored. The outer part of it painted in bright and harmonious colors. It fade away now and this makes it look more beautiful.