- Local Time: 06:59 AM
- Weather: 14 ℃ / 58 ℉
It’s extremely rare when a construction can achieve the perfect combination of majesty and beauty but for Muhammad Ali mosque a.k.a "The Alabaster Mosque", it was quite an easy task. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful constructions in the city that never sleeps, located in Cairo Citadel and was constructed by the ruler of Egypt Muhammad Ali Pasha between 1830 and 1848 AD at the beginning of the Egyptian Renaissance to be a house of worship and his final resting place. Muhammad Ali Mosque one of top Cairo tourist attractions that you can't miss during your Egypt tour packages.
When he took power in Cairo in 1800, he reshaped the citadel’s design to fit his own vision. He ordered an architect by the name Yusuf Bushnaq to construct a mosque similar to sultan Ahmad mosque in Istanbul, it took 18 years to build and was restored by King Fuad in 1931 and again in 1939 by King Farouk with the total cost of 100,000 LE (about $560.00 USD). Muhammad Ali is buried in a tomb made of Carrara marble located in the courtyard of the mosque on the right side of one of the three entrances behind a bronze grill. Muhammad Ali built the mosque with two minarets to defy the Ottoman Empire as the law prohibited anyone except the sultan from constructing a mosque with more than two minarets to which indicated his desire to free himself from the Ottoman rule which shows it wasn’t a mere house of worship but a call for freedom which makes it an important historical landmark.
The extensive use of marble on the exterior & interior walls. The mosque was able to reach the peak of elegant architecture as it depended on the Ottoman style of architecture and the interior depended on some French rococo influences with mesmerizing finishes of ornate of red, green and gold. It was built in a square plan measuring 41x41 m and with a breathtaking central dome surrounded by four small semicircular domes and divided into two sections.
The main material used in construction is Limestone, but the forecourt is covered with Alabaster and the inner and outer walls are covered with shining marble. It also contains a breathtaking golden-scalloped mihrab and two majestic minarets that reach the height of 82 meters, made of alabaster and decorated in Nouveau style. It also contains a central dome which is 21 meters in diameter and the height of 52 meters, rises on four arches and around it are four smaller domes decorate in religious medallions.
In the courtyard which is about 54 m in length and 53 m in width, surrounded by a single arched Riwaq, and showcases naves raised on pillars and roofed with small domes, is an ornate brass clock given by King Louis Philippe of France to Muhammad Ali in 1845in exchange of the obelisk which is now standing in the Concorde square in Paris and a Turkish ablutions fountain that looks like a giant Easter egg.
If you are in Cairo and prefer to visit this amazing archaeological site, then Egypt Tours Portal offer you the chance to book your trip to old Cairo attractions through our Cairo day tours.
From: US$130
Cairo Stopover Tour For Australian Travelers Cairo stopover tour is the ultima...
Tour Location: Cairo/Giza...
From: US$110
Day Tour in Cairo and the Pyramids For Australian Travelers Day Tour in Cairo and Th...
Tour Location: Cairo/Giza...
From: US$130
Day Trip to Pyramids from Cairo for Australian Travelers Day trip to the Pyramids fr...
Tour Location: Giza...
From: US$490
Day Trip from Luxor to Cairo by Plane For Australian Travelers Day trip from Luxor t...
Tour Location: Cairo...
Egypt Tours Portal
Egypt Tours Portal was established in 1987 and we have more than 33 years of experience in the field of tourism in Egypt. We have defined the word of professionalism throughout the tours that we have arranged through the past years as it is not just business to us but it is a matter of proving to the whole world that we are the best travel agency in the middle east who can arrange perfect well-organized tours in Egypt with the whole required element to make it one of its kind.
The Egyptian Museum, it was established in 1835 near the Ezbekeyah Garden explore more about Egyptian Mus...
Khan El Khalili is one of the oldest bazaars in the Middle East, know more about Khan El Khalili history ...
Memphis City it was one of the oldest cities in Egypt and capital of ancient Egypt, Memphis is located so...
Eoffers valuable insights straight from the source, capturing the voices and experiences of those who matter most – our cherished clients
© Copyright Egypt Tours Portal 2024.
