CAIRO — Islamic Cairo includes roughly 800 Islamic monuments, including mosques, hammams, water fountains and schools, each reflecting the architectural styles of every Islamic era in Egypt, beginning with the Muslim conquest by Amr ibn al-As (693-642) in the seventh century.
In recognition of this heritage, the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO) selected Cairo as the capital of Islamic culture 2020 last year. If it had not been for the outbreak of the coronavirus that restricted public events, April 5 would have been the first day of a whirlwind of festivals, cultural events and tours that would have put in the spotlight the archaeological and historical heritage of the Egyptian capital.