Mosque of Qaitbey

Lonely Planet review

Sultan Qaitbey, a prolific builder, was the last Mamluk leader with any real power in Egypt. He ruled for 28 years and, though he was as ruthless as any Mamluk sultan, he was also something of an aesthete. The Mosque of Qaitbey, completed in 1474 and depicted on the around £E1 note, is widely agreed to mark the pinnacle of Islamic building in Cairo.

The façade has bold stripes and the interior has four iwan s around a central court lit by large, lattice-screened windows. Featuring loads of marble, it's one of the most pleasant places in Cairo to sit for a while and relax.

The adjacent tomb chamber contains the cenotaphs of Qaitbey and his two sisters, as well as two stones that supposedly bear the footprints of the Prophet. The true glory, however, is above, where the dome was carved with interlaced star and floral designs; its intricacy and delicacy were never surpassed in Cairo or anywhere else in the Islamic world - climb the minaret for the best view.