Story: Cairo Citadel and Mosque
Episode: 1
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 28 February 2026

Cairo’s Citadel of Salah El Din is a monumental medieval fortress, offering panoramic city views and a powerful window into Egypt’s political and religious history.

• Built in the 12th century by Salah El Din, the Citadel was designed to defend Cairo from Crusader attacks and served as a royal stronghold for over seven centuries.
• Perched on the Muqattam Hills, its strategic elevation provides sweeping views across Cairo, linking the city’s skyline to centuries of faith and power.
• In 1811, Muhammad Ali Pasha staged the Massacre of the Mamluks here, a decisive event that consolidated his rule and shaped Egypt’s modern era.
• The Mosque of Muhammad Ali, inspired by Ottoman mosques of Istanbul, is the Citadel’s architectural centrepiece and a symbol of rising Egyptian ambition.
• Inside, the vast prayer hall features stained glass, intricate calligraphy and an enormous chandelier, with space to hold thousands of worshippers at once.

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