Saladin Citadel

The Saladin Citadel rises from a limestone spur of the Mokattam Hills, identifiable by its massive, crenelated stone walls and the prominent, dual-minaret silhouette of the Muhammad Ali Mosque crowning the complex. Construction began in eleven seventy-six under the direction of the Ayyubid ruler Saladin, who intended the site to serve as a formidable defensive stronghold against Crusader threats. To build it, workers reportedly dismantled minor pyramids at Giza to repurpose the stone blocks for its fortifications.