Sultan Hassan Mosque

Built in the middle of the 14th century under the order of Sultan Hassan, the mosque that bears his name is an imposing Mamluk style building, considered one of the most important Islamic monuments in the world.

The building was built with stone and stood out both for its size, about 8,000 square meters, and for the innovative architectural elements. The building is 35 meters high and its highest point is a minaret that rises to 68 meters.

A first moment was created to function as a madrasa, a school dedicated to the teaching of Islam that was divided into different sections to house the four currents of Sunni thought: Shafi’i, Maliki, Hanafi and Hanbali.

During the works, one of the minarets gave way, causing the death of about 300 faithful, something that was seen as a bad omen and caused the sultan to be murdered. Paradoxically, Hassan never saw his great work finished.

Walking through the mosque
Behind the imposing, dark-looking, fortified entrance to the Sultan Hassan Mosque, is a huge sun-drenched courtyard with a fountain in the center. The courtyard is surrounded by the four classrooms of different schools.

The side rooms beautifully decorated with chandeliers hung with long chains present different cells for students and teachers. The largest is used as a sanctuary and, behind a bronze door decorated with stars, offers access to the mausoleum of Sultan Hassan.

An imposing mosque
The Sultan Hassan Mosque is an impressive display of the strength and power of the Mamluks during the time it was built. Its structure is surprising and is different from most mosques, so it is worth visiting.

The Al-Rifa’i Mosque is located just across the street, making it an ideal occasion to discover two of Cairo’s most important religious buildings.

If you want to get to know the area with a guide who will show you the most interesting places, you can book the guided tour,

Historic Cairo tour of the Fatimid Caliphate