Museums -- Islamic Cairo

The Islamic collection was first gathered in 1880 by Khedive Tewfiq and the Orientalist art historians ::Iand Cresswell as a way of preserving some of Egypt's traditional heritage which was rapidly dilapidating. The museum was established in 1902 to house an enormous collection of Islamic artifacts, from manuscripts and calligraphy to swords and armour to architectural elements and furniture to textiles, ceramics, blown glass and ornamental metalwork.

Museum of Islamic Art

Dar al-Kutub
Bur Said and Qalaa Streets
(west of ::I)

Hours: Saturday to Thursday 9.00am-4.00pm
Friday 9.00-11.00am /1.30-4.00pm
Ramadan (closes at 3.00pm)

Admission: fees apply; there are special fees for students

Photography permit: fees apply; flashes & tripods prohibited

Gayer-Anderson House (::I)

The Islamic collection was first gathered in 1880 by Khedive Tewfiq and the Orientalist art historians ::I and Cresswell as a way of preserving some of Egypt's traditional heritage which was rapidly dilapidating. The museum was established in 1902 to house an enormous collection of Islamic artifacts, from manuscripts and calligraphy to swords and armour to architectural elements and furniture to textiles, ceramics, blown glass and ornamental metalwork.

Adjacent to the Mosque of Ibn Tulun

Hours: Daily 8.00am-4.00pm (closed Fridays 12.00-1.00pm)

Admission: fees apply; there are special fees for students

Photography permit: fees apply

Formed of two adjacent houses, one built in the 16th century and the other built in the 18th century, the house was named after British army officer Major John Gayer-Anderson who lived there between 1935 and 1942 during which time he restored and furnished the building. On leaving Egypt in 1942 Gayer-Anderson donated his house to the country as a museum. Each room is elaborately furnished thematically according to the British colonial fascination with orientalia. There is a Persian Room, a Chinese Room, a Turkish Room, a Harem, etc. There is excellent carved wooden mushribiyya work over the windows and upon the roof area. The house has been used numerous times as a film location.

Bait as-Suhaymi

This is one of Cairo's finest traditional houses, constructed in the 16th and 17th centuries. Although in some disrepair, the house is an outstanding example of traditional Islamic building and retains an atmosphere of moneyed mercantile sophistication.

19 Sharia Darb Al-Asfar
(off Sharia Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah)

Admission: L.E. 3.00, Students L.E. 1.50

This is fine restoration of a 16th century merchant's villa with fine examples of mushribiyya and stained glass work.

6 Sharia Khushqadam
(east off Sharia Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah)

Hours: Daily 9.00am-5.00pm

Admission: fees apply; there are special fees for students