Fountain sights in Cairo
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Sabil-Kuttab of Abdel Rahman Katkhuda
One of the iconic structures of Islamic Cairo, depicted in scores of paintings and lithographs. Building this fountain-school combo was an atonement for sins, as it provided two things commended by the Prophet: water for the thirsty and enlightenment for the ignorant. This one was built in 1744 by an emir notorious for his debauchery.
There's nice ceramic work inside, so it's worth trying to find the caretaker with the key. He often sits in Qasr Beshtak, down the little alley to the east, then through the archway at the bottom.
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Sabil of Muhammed Ali Pasha
The delicate Ottoman-style Sabil of Muhammed Ali Pasha is an 1820 fountain that was the first in Cairo to have gilded window grilles and calligraphic panels in Ottoman Turkish. Although it has been meticulously restored, it was closed to the public at last pass; check if it's open, as there is also access to a cistern below.
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