Dating to AD 970, this mosque was built by the Fatimids, the founders of Cairo. The architecture is a mix of styles that reflects different periods when the mosque was renovated. The Al Azhar mosque, with its unusual double-pointed minaret and marble courtyard, is a wonderfully tranquil place to escape from the noise and rush of the city. The university is the oldest continuously operating university in the world and one of the most prestigious theology schools in the Islamic world. Open daily, 24 hours a day. No visitors are admitted during prayers. Free. Al Azhar Street, near Khan el-Khalili (Islamic Cairo), Cairo.
