The Sultan Hassan Mosque, built between 1356 and 1363 AD in Cairo’s Salah al-Din Square, is a prime example of Mamluk architecture. It combines a mosque and madrasa, teaching the four main Sunni Islamic schools of jurisprudence. One of the largest and most expensive religious structures in Cairo, it uses stones from the Giza pyramids. The mosque features an empty mausoleum, intended for Sultan Hassan’s remains after his assassination. Its intricate design, including the mihrab, minbar, and dome, reflects Mamluk architectural mastery. The nearby Al-Rifai Mosque, built later as a tribute to Sultan Hassan, completes the historic landscape of Salah al-Din Square.
The Sultan Hassan Mosque’s monumental architecture and significance have inspired greatness and imitation over the centuries. It stands adjacent to the Al-Rifai Mosque, built centuries later in 1912 in a neo-Mamluk style intended to echo the architectural glory of Sultan Hassan’s creation.
While Al-Rifai Mosque is often mistaken by tourists as part of the older complex, it serves as a modern homage to Sultan Hassan’s pioneering design. Together, the two mosques dominate the Salah al-Din Square, creating a historic ensemble that celebrates Cairo’s illustrious past.
The Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa continue to attract visitors from around the world, offering a window into the ingenuity of Mamluk architecture and the fascinating history of medieval Cairo. Its towering minarets, magical iwans, and breathtaking attention to artistic detail capture the spirit of an era when Cairo was a center of knowledge, art, and faith. Sultan Hassan’s mosque remains a landmark of both architectural and cultural significance, symbolizing a legacy that has withstood centuries of admiration and reverence.
The Sultan Hassan Mosque is located in Salah al-Din Square, within the bustling historic district of Cairo, near the Citadel of Cairo. The mosque enjoys a strategic position that underscores its significance as both a religious and cultural landmark. In medieval times, an open space known as Rumayla Square lay between the mosque and the Citadel, historically used for military parades and public events.
Today, this area, renamed Midan Salah al-Din, is a lively square surrounded by Cairo’s historical treasures, making it a prime destination for travelers interested in Egypt’s Mamluk legacy. The mosque’s location, set against the backdrop of the Citadel, provides a spectacular visual connection between Cairo’s secular and religious history, symbolizing the city’s role as a center of Islamic art and architecture.
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The Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa are celebrated as one of the greatest masterpieces of Mamluk architecture, widely revered for its colossal scale, meticulous design, and rich historical significance. It was built between 1356 and 1363 AD under the rule of Sultan an-Nasir Hasan. The mosque stands in Cairo’s historic district near the Citadel, occupying a prime position that reflects its importance.
The project was ambitious, and the Sultan spared no expense; historical accounts claim that the construction costs nearly drained the Mamluk Treasury, resulting in one of the most costly religious edifices of its era. Builders are even said to have repurposed limestone blocks from the ancient pyramids of Giza, incorporating a link between the mosque and Egypt’s enduring heritage.
Sultan Hassan’s mosque remains a treasured monument in Cairo, impressive not only for its immense dimensions, which are 150 meters in length and 36 meters in height, but also for its artistic innovations and symbolic role in Islamic history.
Sultan Hasan’s life story also shapes the character of the mosque. He ascended to the throne at just 13 and endured a turbulent reign marked by imprisonment, betrayal, and extravagant spending. His wealth and opulent lifestyle won him both admiration and criticism.
He ordered the mosque’s construction during a time of great social hardship, as the Black Plague ravaged Cairo, and he funded the mosque in part with wealth seized from deceased nobility. Despite Sultan Hasan’s assassination before the mosque’s completion, the building continued, and his legacy endures through its remarkable design and enduring grandeur.
The architecture of Sultan Hassan Mosque is unique for its integration of a mosque and madrasa (religious school), arranged to fulfill both religious and educational purposes. Sultan Hasan’s vision was grand and pioneering; he commissioned an architectural layout unlike any other in Cairo, blending space, form, and functionality to showcase the intellectual vibrancy of the Mamluk period.
The mosque’s central courtyard, a spacious open-air square, serves as the focal point. An ablutions fountain, likely added during the Ottoman era, graces the center, enhancing the courtyard’s serene atmosphere. This courtyard is surrounded by four large iwans, or vaulted chambers, each designated for one of the main Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence: Hanafi, Maliki, Hanbali, and Shafi’i. Each iwan is tailored to serve as both a teaching area and a communal space, exemplifying the mosque’s dual function as a center of prayer and scholarship.
The mosque’s symmetry, proportional design, and systematic organization lend an air of sophistication to the entire structure. Behind and between the iwans are four distinct madrasa wings, each with its own smaller courtyard and a four-story block of chambers for students and teachers. This multi-level structure not only provided a space for academic instruction but also residential quarters, making the mosque a self-contained center of learning and worship.
Sultan Hassan’s mosque is a showcase of Islamic art, reflecting both the grandeur of the Mamluk dynasty and the Sultan’s taste for opulence. One of the mosque's most distinctive features is the mausoleum, built to house Sultan Hassan’s remains. Positioned behind the largest iwan, it features a blend of stunning Islamic artistry, though Sultan Hassan’s body was never interred here following his assassination.
The mausoleum’s interior is adorned with multicolored stone and marble paneling, adding vibrant layers of color and texture. Above this, a stucco band of Kufic script, inscribed with verses from the Qur’an, stretches across the upper walls, framed by intricate arabesque patterns. This combination of color, texture, and calligraphy creates a sense of reverence and solemnity in the mausoleum.
The mosque’s mihrab (prayer niche) and minbar (pulpit) are also remarkable. The mihrab, lined with marble mosaics, displays geometric patterns that highlight the Mamluk artisans’ skill in creating harmonious, intricate designs. The minbar, adorned with bronze doors inlaid with gold and silver, adds a layer of luxury.
The dome above the mausoleum, although later reconstructed, is supported by elegant muqarnas (stalactite-like) pendentives, allowing light to cascade down in a way that enhances the structure's ethereal beauty during the early morning hours. Interestingly, the placement of the mausoleum behind the qibla wall (the wall facing Mecca) is unusual, meaning worshippers face the empty tomb as they pray, an arrangement found in no other Mamluk mosque and one that underscores the unique character of Sultan Hassan’s vision.
You can visit this marvelous Islamic monument during your Egypt tours to enjoy visiting the mosque mixed with all the historical landmarks and pharaonic treasures in the immortal cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan, accompanied by a private Egyptologist tour guide. Plus, there is always the chance to board an epic nile cruise to the golden milestones of Upper Egypt, which will guarantee the most magical travel experience.
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The Sultan Hassan Mosque was built to serve as both a religious and educational center, embodying Sultan an-Nasir Hasan’s devotion and authority. The mosque's strategic location near the Citadel further emphasized the Sultan's political influence and ambition.
Key features include a central courtyard surrounded by four iwans, each dedicated to a Sunni school of jurisprudence; an ablutions fountain; a mausoleum with a notable dome; a beautifully decorated mihrab and minbar; and an impressive facade with towering minarets, showcasing intricate Mamluk design.
The mosque spans 7,906 square meters, with walls 36 meters high and minarets, especially the southern one, reaching 84 meters, making it one of the tallest Mamluk structures in Cairo.
The mosque is architecturally innovative, representing Mamluk design at its peak, and serves as a cultural and educational landmark, housing all four Sunni schools. Its proximity to the Citadel symbolizes political resilience, and it has inspired later Islamic architectural works, including Cairo's Al-Rifai Mosque.
The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt.
If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa.
Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.
The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.
You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
We have been creating the finest vacations for more than 20 years around the most majestic destinations in Egypt. Our staff consists of the best operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort to make you have the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time consultants to fit your every possible need during your vacation. It doesn't go without saying that your safety and comfort are our main priority and all of our resources will be directed to provide the finest atmosphere until you return home.
You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt.
Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.
The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.
There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt.
Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.
Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.
The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.
The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
It is the home of everything a traveler might be looking for from amazing historical sites dating to more than 4000 years to enchanting city resorts & beaches. You will live the vacation you deserve as Egypt has everything you could possibly imagine.
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