Dating from the 9th century and covering over six acres, the Ibn Tulun Mosque has a vast open courtyard in the centre of which is a minaret in the form of a spiral staircase set into a square. Climb it for a fine view over Cairo.
Constructed from mud brick and timber it is a beautiful building. The heavily carved minbar (pulpit) is considered one of the oldest and finest in Egypt. Look for the pointed arches that pre-dated Gothic architecture by a couple of centuries and the long inner arcades decorated with floral designs and inscriptions in flowing Kufic lettering.
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