Islamic Cairo is one of the oldest parts of the city, so-called due to its extremely high concentration of mosques and Islamic monuments. It was founded in 969 as royal enclosure for the Fatimid caliphate, a dynasty which ruled the Mediterranean coast of Africa. The administrative capital was in nearby Fustat, which was founded after the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 641. Fustat was torched by its own vizier (high-ranking minister) in 1168 to prevent its wealth from being captured by the Crusaders. After this, the administrative capital moved to Cairo and the remains of Fustat were absorbed by the growing city.
These shots taken in Muizz Street, one of the oldest in Cairo and with reportedly the greatest concentration of medieval treasures in the Islamic world.
