Fodor's Expert Review Madrasa of al-Nasir Muhammad
Islamic Cairo North
Notable Building
Considered the greatest Mamluk sultan, al-Nasir ruled on three different occasions between 1293 and 1340 for a total of 42 years, and during his reign, Egypt gained control of the lucrative maritime trade routes that connected England with China. Al-Nasir built more than 30 mosques, the aqueduct from the Nile to the Citadel, and a canal from Cairo to Alexandria. Eight of his sons ruled Egypt in the 21 years following his death. Qalawun's complex has slight Gothic influences, but this, his son's madrasa (built in 1304), contains distinct, Gothic elements. In fact, the entrance was literally lifted from a crusader church in Acre. The minaret, with its delicate stucco-work, is one of the city's finest.
