Saladin Citadel or Cairo Citadel is one of the must-see places in Cairo. It is a medieval Islamic fortification built on Mokattam hill in Cairo, which was, and still is, a place known for its fresh breeze and grand views of the city.

The Saladin Citadel was first ordered for construction by the Ayyubid ruler Saladin, and was further upgraded and added to by later rulers. Saladin was a Kurdish who came to rule Egypt in a time of political instability and became known for his important victories over the crusaders and for being a man of great virtue, even by accounts of his enemies. Due to the threat of the western crusades during his rule, he decided to start a defensive project that was one of the greatest of its times; building a formidable citadel that would be highly defensible in case of a siege by the enemies. Time passed and the citadel was never sieged and never was used for its original purpose, however, it was a main stage in several important events through Egypt’s history.

The Citadel of Saladin consists of two main enclosures; the Northern Enclosure and the Southern Enclosure. Historically, the northern part of the citadel was the militaristic part, where the troops were stationed, and the southern one was the place of the Sultan’s accommodation. The citadel’s main construction periods were during the 12th, 14th and 19th centuries. The first construction period was under Saladin, the second one was under the Mamluks (under al-Nasir Muhammad), who added several important constructions in the citadel, and the third one was under Muhammad Ali, who reworked the citadel and changed alot in it. The works of these various rulers can be seen today in the vast number of constructions in the citadel.

Today, the Citadel of Saladin includes a large number of mosques, museums and great structures. The citadel includes the Police Museum, the Egyptian military museum, the Carriage Museum and Al-Gawhara Palace Museum. The city also includes in its enclosure the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest and most beautiful mosques in all of Egypt. This mosque is built at the summit of the citadel and is an Ottoman-style mosque. It can be seen from afar in other places in Cairo due to its sheer size and its high position. There is also another mosque located across the street from the courtyard access to Muhammad Ali’s mpsque, which is al-Nasir Muhammad’s Mosque. This mosque was built in 1318 and was the mosque where al-Nasir and his other successors would pray every Friday. In contrast to Muhammad Ali’s Mosque, this mosque is built in the Mamluk architectural style. The citadel also included Yusuf’s well and the Mamluk Aqueduct, which were the main water sources for the citadel.

All these historical sights and landmarks show why the Citadel of Saladin is a must-see; the citadel is like a small town full of history in every corner that transports you to a distant time once you enter it. It’s also one of the few places that holds 800 years of history between its walls, allowing the visitors to see and understand a big segment of the history of Egypt and Islam.