|
The Northern Enclosure is surrounded by the Citadel's original Ayyubid walls and towers.
Map, no. 18: This bend was the site of one of Salah ad-Din's towers. It was demolished in
1501 by
Ganbalat and replaced by an ARTILLERY PLATFORM, but you can still see the outline
of
its foundations.
* Beyond the Artillery Platform there is a drop in the ground level. Muhammad 'Ali built a
wall across this depression, which today encloses the rear garden of the Harim Palace
(1827). The wall of Salah ad-Din, still strengthened by Ganbalat's stone encasement,
turns south for 40 meters to avoid the drop. This portion of the Ayyubid fortifications
survives Inside the Northern Enclosure, behind Muhammad 'Ali's realignment of the
northern walls.
* The drop in the ground level and the houses built against the fortifications make it
impossible to follow the walls beyond this point. You can see (map, no. 19), however, a large
tower
built by Muhammad 'Ali midway along the walls and (map, no. 20) a tower
constructed
by the Ottomans
in the 16th century at the northwestern corner of
the Northern Enclosure.
* From here either retrace your steps back to the Bab al-Gabal, or venture down the hill,
through the small neighborhood to the north, which wili bring you to Muhammad 'Ali's
carriageway, between the western walis of the Northern Enclosure and the Archives
Building. At this point you are on the route into the Citadel from Salah ad-Din Square.
Click on the map (thumbnail below) to see an enlarged version.
|
|
Last updated: 6/12/06