Cairo Tower: Gezira Island Landmark with Views of Islamic Cairo
The Cairo Tower on Gezira Island is a 187-meter observation tower completed in 1961, with panoramic views over Cairo and the mosques of Islamic Cairo.
The Cairo Tower is one of Egypt's most famous landmarks. It stands on Gezira Island in the Nile River, in the heart of Cairo.
Cairo Tower Overview
- Location: Gezira Island, on the Nile in Cairo.
- Height: 187 meters (614 feet), one of the tallest structures in Egypt.
- Completed: 1961.
- Purpose: observation tower and tourist attraction.
- Design: inspired by the shape of the lotus plant, a symbol from ancient Egyptian culture.
- Views: panoramic views of Cairo, including nearby Islamic Cairo with its mosques, madrasas and historic Islamic architecture.
Is the Cairo Tower an Islamic Monument?
The Cairo Tower is primarily a modern, secular landmark, not an Islamic religious structure. It stands in a city with a deep Islamic history, so the surrounding area reflects Islamic culture and architecture.
From the tower you can look out over Islamic Cairo, including:
- The Mosque of Muhammad Ali in the Citadel
- Al-Azhar Mosque and University
- Historic mosques and markets from the Fatimid, Mamluk and Ottoman periods
This makes the tower a good vantage point for Islamic architecture, even though it is not itself an Islamic monument.
