Bab Zuwayla

The Heart of Cairo

Bab Zuwayla has been one of Cairo’s most recognizable monuments for almost 1,000 years. In 969, the Fatimids founded Cairo as their capital city. Bab Zuwayla was built in 1092 as the southern gate to the fortified city.

Сonservation

One of the most challenging tasks of ARCE's conservation was restoring the massive six-meter-high wood and iron doors. Local craftsmen and carpenters, in collaboration with the project conservators, repaired the damaged wood and replaced missing nails. The bottom of the door was buried by the rising street level so the surrounding street was shut down to move it out for excavation.

Are Your Legs Getting Tired?

As one of the most recognizable monuments in Cairo, this site if visited by thousands of tourists each year. The view from the top is said to be one of the best in Historic Cairo.

What's in a Name?

"Bab" means "gate" in Arabic and "Zuwayla" refers to the Fatimid soldiers of the Berber tribe al-Zuwayla who were stationed near the gate. The Fatimid army also included Greeks, Armenians, Sudanese, and Turks, all of whom lived together in the capital city.

Head up the Minaret Here!

The conservation project

The conservation project also included cleaning the exterior of the monument, removing decades of dirt and grime. Keep heading up the stairs to see the roof and minarets.

A Storied Past

Locally, Bab Zuwayla is known as al-Mitwalli, after a mystical saint. In the medieval period, he Sultan would stand on the famous platform of Bab Zuwayla to witness the ceremonial beginning of the hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. This was also the site of public executions during Mamluk times and the heads of criminals were displayed on the spiked gate.

Conservation by ARCE

In recent decades, this iconic monument has faced new environment and man-made threats like overcrowding, increased traffic, and pollution. The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) saw the desperate need to protect this iconic monument and, in 1998, they started a five-year conservation project with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development. Read more at [https://www.arce.org/project/conservation-bab-zuwayla.](https://www.arce.org/project/conservation-bab-zuwayla.)

Feature

A unique architectural feature of this gate is the two towering Mamluk-period minarets, built for the neighboring Mosque of al-Mu'ayyad. The photo shows the minarets before and after claning and restoration.

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Bab Zuwayla
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Symbolic and historically invaluable Fatimid site in Cairo
the heart of cairo bab zuwayla has been one of cairo’s most recognizable monuments for almost 1,000 years. in 969, the fatimids founded cairo as their capital city. bab zuwayla was built in 1092 as the southern gate to the fortified city. The Heart of Cairo Сonservation one of the most challenging tasks of arce's conservation was restoring the massive six-meter-high wood and iron doors. local craftsmen and carpenters, in collaboration with the project conservators, repaired the damaged wood and replaced missing nails. the bottom of the door was buried by the rising street level so the surrounding street was shut down to move it out for excavation. Сonservation are your legs getting tired? as one of the most recognizable monuments in cairo, this site if visited by thousands of tourists each year. the view from the top is said to be one of the best in historic cairo. Are Your Legs Getting Tired? what's in a name? "bab" means "gate" in arabic and "zuwayla" refers to the fatimid soldiers of the berber tribe al-zuwayla who were stationed near the gate. the fatimid army also included greeks, armenians, sudanese, and turks, all of whom lived together in the capital city. What's in a Name? head up the minaret here! Head up the Minaret Here! the conservation project the conservation project also included cleaning the exterior of the monument, removing decades of dirt and grime. keep heading up the stairs to see the roof and minarets. The conservation project a storied past locally, bab zuwayla is known as al-mitwalli, after a mystical saint. in the medieval period, he sultan would stand on the famous platform of bab zuwayla to witness the ceremonial beginning of the hajj, the annual pilgrimage to mecca. this was also the site of public executions during mamluk times and the heads of criminals were displayed on the spiked gate. A Storied Past conservation by arce in recent decades, this iconic monument has faced new environment and man-made threats like overcrowding, increased traffic, and pollution. the american research center in egypt (arce) saw the desperate need to protect this iconic monument and, in 1998, they started a five-year conservation project with support from the u.s. agency for international development. read more at https://www.arce.org/project/conservation-bab-zuwayla. Conservation by ARCE feature a unique architectural feature of this gate is the two towering mamluk-period minarets, built for the neighboring mosque of al-mu'ayyad. the photo shows the minarets before and after claning and restoration. Feature
On the map
Mohammed Ali, El-Darb El-Ahmar, Al-Darb Al-Ahmar, Cairo Governorate 4293001, Египет
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