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.