The ancient towers of the Cairo Citadel opened to the public for the first time. Until recently, they hosted private events. Military and police garrisons were also located here.
Now this sector of the Cairo Citadel has been restored and prepared for excursions. The height of the Ramla Tower is almost 21 meters, the Haddad Tower is 22 meters.
The Cairo citadel was built in the second half of the 12th century by order of Salah ad-Din. The commander and founder of the Ayyubid dynasty planned to turn the fortress into a city within a city. But his plans did not come true. The citadel was completed by its successors.
In the 13th century, the fortress became the residence of the rulers of Egypt. They lived there for almost 700 years – until the luxurious Abdin Palace was built in the 19th century.
The Cairo citadel was constantly completed by different rulers. And in the first half of the 19th century, Muhammad Ali Pasha demolished many buildings and erected new palaces in their place. This is how the fortress acquired its current appearance. In the 20th century, there was a British military base here. In 1946, the Egyptian military was stationed in the citadel. In the 80s, most of the fortress was opened to the public. Some ancient buildings house museums.
The Cairo Citadel is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.