Tag Archives: El-Khayamiya Cloth Souk

Within easy walking distance of the Khan el-Khalili Souk is the El-Khayamiya Tentmakers Souk. As you approach El-Khayamiya, if you’re on foot from Khan el-Khalili Souk, you’ll pass through Bab Zuwayla, one of Old Cairo’s three remaining gates within the historic city walls. The Bab Zuwayla gate is the southern gate of fortified Cairo, and it dates back to AD 1092.

And if you want to know the exact foot route between these souks, here it is courtesy of Google Maps:

This route also takes you past the Sabil Muhammad ‘Ali Pasha. There is much history associated with this community fountain, which supplied water to the surrounding community starting in 1820. This water source was built by Muhammad Ali of Egypt, who ruled from 1805 until 1849 and who is considered today the founder of Modern Egypt. There is also a U.S. connection to this fountain. The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) assisted in its restoration, along with the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Cairo, the Barakat Trust, and the Delegation of the European Commission in Egypt. This project, started in 1998, was completed in 2004.

So now let’s take a look at Cairo’s Cloth Souk and surrounding streets:

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