Home          Mosques          Muslim Heritage          Personalities          Travel         Contact Us


Bab Zuweila of Cairo

Bab Zuweila is an old city gate in Cairo, it was constructed in the 11th century. It derives it’s name from the Zuweila tribe which was responsible for guarding the entrance to the city. This gate is also called al-Mitwalli after El Kutb al-Mitwalli by some local inhabitants. Bab Zuweila was the southern gate in the city walls of Cairo.

This gate was also a place to watch out for the enemy troops as well as to bid farewell to hajjis (Pilgrims) to Mecca. Even today this gate provides the sweeping view of the old Cairo.

 

Scene at the street leading to the Bab Zuweila in Cairo
Door of the Bab Zuweila
An arch between the two minarets of the gate
Base of one of the minarets (towers) of Bab Zuweila

 

Over the centuries, the gate has been used as a venue for dancing, a cure for toothaches (driving a nail into the wood of the doors could reduce the pain if not fully heal it), and a place for displaying the heads of various criminals or anti government elements. The most famous of which were those of the Mamluks killed in the Citadel massacre of 1811. This gate was also the place where Mamluk Sultan Qutuz killed and hanged the heads of the six messengers sent by Hulagu Khan.

Twin minarets of the gate
An external arch of the Bab Zuweila
A design made on one of the internal walls of the gate
Stairs on the upper part of Bab Zuweila
Here city walls form the upper parts of the gate
Street seen through protective grill on the walls of the gate

The corresponding gate on the northern side of the city was the Bab al-Futuh, which still stands on the northern side of the Muizz street. Bab Zuweila seemed to be more popular than its brother because due to its location in the middle of Old Cairo.

A model of the Bab Zuweila on display
A pillar used in one of the inetrnal walls of the gate
This Greek Roman capital of a pillar was re-used in the Bab Zuweila
Here, some of the stones are from the original construction of the gate
Stone blocks on the right side are from the 11th century while on the left side from the 15th century
Inside this glass is a section of the floor from the 15th century
A pattern made with glass on one of the walls of the gate
Inside a small museum few items are on display
This plaque was attached to a wooden frame but it was lying on the floor
Exterior of the Bab Zuweila
Top of one of the minarets of the Bab Zuweila
Middle part of the minaret
Lower part of the minaret
Windows offer view to the different part of the city
al-Saleh Talib Mosque seen from the Zuweila Gate
Traffic on a street below the gate
View of old Cairo from the Bab Zuweila