Islamic Cairo

As an important heritage of Islamic civilization, the Islamic Old City of Cairo has completely preserved the urban pattern and architectural system of the Middle Ages. Based on the urban planning of the Fatimid Dynasty, the area continued to develop from the Ayyubid Dynasty to the Mamluk period, forming a model city integrating religious, academic and commercial functions. The dense buildings are distributed along the main streets and alleys, showing the unique centripetal layout characteristics of Islamic cities. The main body of the building is made of local sandstone, and the wall thickness is generally more than one meter. The space span is achieved through stone-bearing structure and arch technology. Typical religious buildings include square courtyards, column arcades and honeycomb stalactite decorations. Minarets are mostly designed with layered points, and the facades are decorated with hollow stone carvings and Kufic inscriptions. The Sultan Hassan complex embodies the architectural achievements of the Mamluk period. Its cross-ribbed vault and composite functional space design have become a dual model of Islamic architectural mechanics and aesthetics. The existing complex includes many historic mosques and religious schools. As the oldest academic institution in the Islamic world, Al-Azhar Mosque has a far-reaching influence in its arcade system and teaching space layout.