Mosque · Egypt
Al-Azhar Mosque
الجامع الأزهر
The Fatimid-founded mosque and seat of learning in the heart of historic Cairo, in use as a mosque and teaching institution for over a millennium.
Where it is
30.0458, 31.2627
Why go
Al-Azhar stands inside the area once enclosed by the walls of Fatimid Cairo, between the historic districts of al-Darb al-Ahmar and al-Gamaliya. It was founded after Jawhar al-Siqilli’s conquest of Egypt for the Fatimid state, originally to spread Shi’ite teaching, and today teaches according to the Sunni tradition. It has functioned as both mosque and university for more than a thousand years, so visitors encounter a working religious and scholarly institution rather than a museum.
Near Al-Azhar Mosque
Historic site
Zeinab Khatoun House
A Mamluk-founded house behind Al-Azhar Mosque, arranged around an open courtyard with separate men’s and women’s quarters.
0 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Historic site
House of Sitt Wasila
An Ottoman-period courtyard house with decorated reception rooms and painted architectural scenes.
0 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Market
Khan Al-Khalili
Cairo’s historic bazaar brings shops and market lanes together in the Al-Hussein area.
0 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ
Historic site
Sultan al-Ghuri Complex
Sultan Qansuh al-Ghuri’s mosque-madrasa and mausoleum-khanqah, facing each other across Al-Muizz Street at al-Ghuriyya.
0 km · straight-line distance; driving distance and time differ