Media Source: Cairo Scene (Egypt)
Date: 29 May 2024
The Tunbagha Al-Maridani Mosque has been fully refurbished following years of restoration work overseen by Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and the European Union. Built in 1340 CE by Emir Al-Tunbagha Al-Maridani under the patronage of Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Mohamed, the Al-Tunbagha Al-Maridani Mosque is an enduring example
The Tunbagha Al-Maridani Mosque has been fully refurbished following years of restoration work overseen by Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and the European Union. Built in 1340 CE by Emir Al-Tunbagha Al-Maridani under the patronage of Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Mohamed, the Al-Tunbagha Al-Maridani Mosque is an enduring example of Mamluk architecture. It features a courtyard surrounded by four aisles, with the deepest aisle in the direction of prayer. The mosque includes a marble fountain, a marble-clad northern aisle facade, and a prayer wall adorned with fine marble and mother of pearl. Additionally, it boasts three entrances, a dome supported by eight pillars, an interior garden, mashrabiya screens, and stained-glass windows. The restoration project began in 2016 with an examination by a French expert, leading to a Memorandum of Understanding in 2018 between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and AKTC, funded by the European Union. This project, part of ‘Creating Access to Cairo’s Islamic Cultural Heritage’, included conservation work, the creation of a visitor path, and the development of local products and services related to cultural tourism. The project's aim was to preserve Cairo’s Islamic heritage and promote cultural tourism.