Sultan Al-Ghuri Complex in Cairo Features:
One of the finest buildings in Cairo, the Sultan Al-Ghuri Complex is made up of twin, boldly striped black-and-white buildings situated opposite each other across a narrow market street.
Dating from 1505, the structure was built by Qansuh al-Ghouri, the last of the powerful Mamluk sultans, who ruled between 1501-16 and died at the hands of the Ottoman Turks.
The sultan’s body was never recovered from the battlefield and his mausoleum, the building on the east side of the complex, was used for his short-lived successor, Tumanbey. Several attempts to construct a dome over the tomb chamber failed, hence the tomb’s unusual flat, wooden roof.
Part of the mausoleum now serves as a cultural centre and theatre where Whirling Dervishes perform every Wednesday and Saturday evening.
Opposite the mausoleum, on the west side of the complex, is the Al-Ghouri Mosque and Madrassa offering fine views from its rooftop. Of note is the mosque’s unique square minaret which is topped by five bulbs.
In the 18th century, these twin buildings were linked by a wooden roof, creating a covered area that housed the city’s silk market.
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