Cairo - Citadel
Commandingly situated at the foot of the Moqattam' Hills, the Citadel was begun in 1176 by Saladin, who is said to have used stone from the small pyramids at Giza. Of the original structure nothing now remains but the outer walls on the east side and a few towers in the interior; and the two palaces of the Ayyubid period, which were already half destroyed at the time of Selim's entry into the city, have disappeared almost without trace. Long in military occupation and closed to visitors, the Citadel is now to be restored and opened to the public.
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Bab el-Moqattam
Northeast of the well is the Bab el-Moqattam, the main south gate of the Citadel, from which a road runs southeast to Fort Mohammed Ali in the Moqattam Hills.
El-Nasir Mosque
Facing the Mohammed Ali Mosque, to the northeast, is the El-Nasir Mosque, built in 1318-35 by Mohammed el-Nasir and incorporating various ancient architectural elements (columns, capitals, etc.). The two unusual minarets are crowned by bulbous domes with brightly colored faience decoration in the Persian style.
Joseph's Well
Just to the south of the El-Nasir Mosque can be seen Joseph's Well, a square shaft 290ft/88m deep which probably dates from the time of Saladin, and has a spiral staircase running down the sides. Half way down is a platform on which oxen formerly worked a wheel to bring up water.
