Egyptian officials and the US ambassador inaugurated renovations of several monuments and buildings in Historic Cairo, including the Bimaristan Al-Muayyad Sheikh, a hospital complex built in 1420 CE.
The building is notable for its giant crenulated facade and inlaid kufic Arabic inscriptions.
“It is a new policy the government is following, which is to merge civil society to help preserve the antiquities,” Mohamed Ismael, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said.
The building will be used for cultural functions with the involvement of the neighbourhood’s people, he added.
Other monuments restored with US Agency for International Development (USAID) help and inaugurated on Sunday included the 18th century Sabil Kuttab of Ruqayya Dudu and the 14th century Gate of Manjak Al-Silahdar.
A general view of the restoration project site of the historical Islamic Mosque and school next to Bimaristan Al-Muayyad Sheikh, one of the oldest hospitals following extensive renovations carried out in partnership between Egypt's Tourism and Antiquities Ministry and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), ensuring sustainable management of historic sites at Souk al-Silah district in Old Cairo.
A general view of a restoration project at the historic Bimaristan Al-Muayyad Sheikh, one of the oldest hospitals following extensive renovations carried out in partnership between Egypt's Tourism and Antiquities Ministry and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), ensuring sustainable management of historic sites at Souk al-Silah district in Old Cairo.
