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Cairo's Al-Muizz Street Showcases Ancient Glory, Modern Culture

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Cairo's Al-Muizz Street Showcases Ancient Glory, Modern Culture 24 June 11, 2017 Travel www.thearabweekly.com Agenda Amman: During June Starting on the third night of Ramadan, Amman celebrates traditional Arab culture with the Citadel Nights Festival. The city comes to life each night of Ramadan with concerts, recitals of classical Arab music, traditional dishes and authen- tic souks. Tunis: Through June 17 The 35th Tunis Medina Festival is set for the Municipal Theatre of Tunis, Dar Lasram, Dar Hus- sein and Tahar Haddad Club. The festival includes concerts by Salatine el-Tarab from Syria, Zied Gharsa from Tunisia and others. More than a dozen artistic performances will take place in the streets of the Old Medina and downtown Tunis. A view of the medieval building of Sabil of Muhammad (R) and Sultan Qalawun Complex (L), two important landmarks of Al-Muizz Dubai: Street. (Saeed Shahat) Through July 27 Modernist Women of Egypt, an exhibit of work by Egyptian fe- male artists, takes place at the Cairo’s Al-Muizz Street showcases Green Art Gallery on Alserkal Avenue in Dubai. The works on display date from 1950-70 and show the evolution of ancient glory, modern culture styles that shape the Egyptian identity of today and reflect the direct and emotional effects of Amr Emam This year, Egyptian authorities political unrest in Egypt and want to make this street the pulsat- the rest of the world at the ing heart of Egypt’s cultural life dur- time. Cairo ing Ramadan. As the Islamic fasting month started, scores of cultural Jounieh: activities began, all with the aim of June 24-August 15 l-Muizz Street, at the bringing culture to where it belongs: centre of Cairo, is a living Islamic Cairo’s most notable street. The Jounieh Summer Festival, symbol of the city’s an- The activities, Culture Minister set near Jounieh Bay north of cient glory and becomes Helmy al-Namnam said, bring to- Beirut, kicks off with spectacu- the heart of Egypt’s cul- gether musical troupes, handicrafts lar fireworks on the beach. The turalA and religious life in the Islamic artists, dancers, singers, painters, festival includes performances fasting month of Ramadan. poets and readers of the Quran. from international artists such A walk along the street is enough “All these people will be present- as Michael Bolton. to take visitors back hundreds of ing their art to audiences who visit years to the time of the Islamic con- the street every night during Rama- Marrakech: quest of the country, Fatimid and dan,” Namnam said. “They will bring July 1-31 Mamluk rulers and the founders of life to a street whose walls speak modern Egypt. nothing but historical greatness.” The Marrakech Festival of Pop- The street was named after Al- The kilometre-long street is an ular Arts and Folklore showcas- Muizz Li-Din Allah al-Fatimi, the open-air museum but one whose es Moroccan traditions, music, fourth caliph of the Fatimid Dy- contents are in their places by the dance and costumes through nasty, who ruled Egypt for 22 years force of history, politics and the the ages. There are concerts, from 953. It was during his reign that artistry of their makers. The street exhibitions and Moroccan Cairo was founded and the centre of contains by far the largest number street troupe performances. Arab Fatimid Dynasty power moved of medieval architectural treasures from Tunisia to Egypt. in Egypt. Beiteddine: Nothing left behind by the Fatim- Its treasures include centuries-old July 1-August 12 ids is more intact and beautiful than mosques, homes of Egyptian digni- the buildings from that era on this taries of different historical eras and The Beiteddine Art Festival, street. the residences of the country’s most in Lebanon’s Chouf Moun- noted merchants and government of- tains, includes a variety of ficials hundreds of years ago. performances from opera The kilometre-long The street extends from Bab al- Egyptians and foreigners enjoying tours at Al-Muizz Street. and concerts, to theatre and street is an open-air Futuh south to Bab Zuweila, two of (Saeed Shahat) art exhibitions. The festival three remaining gates in the walls welcomes more than 50,000 museum. of Old Cairo. The towering gates visitors, as well as numerous protected medieval Islamic Cairo One of these buildings is al-Hakim ings were left to decay and tourists star performers. Majida el- “The buildings that proudly take against enemy attacks. Made of Mosque, which was built 1,004 deserted it. At the end of the 1990s, Roumi, Pink Martini and Kadim their places on both sides of the wood and steel, they need a mighty years ago. The mosque is named af- however, authorities launched a lav- al-Sahir are to perform at this street bear witness to the greatness force to open and close. They reflect ter al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, the sixth ish renovation process. year’s festival. of their builders as well as their art- the military intelligence and unique- Fatimid caliph. It consists of a spec- After renovation, entry into Al- istry,” said Hazem Gaber, an Antiqui- ness of the Fatimids who built them. tacular rectangle with four arcades Muizz Street was limited to pedes- Zouk Mikael: ties Ministry inspector whose job is The walls are only the outer de- surrounding its courtyard. It has a trians and that revolutionised com- July 4-6 to ensure that Al-Muizz Street build- fensive layer of a rich treat of history monumental entrance with a stone mercial activities in the area. Some ings remain in good shape. “Each of along the street itself. Each of the porch. The mosque is south of Bab of the supermarkets that used to sell Set in a renovated Lebanese these buildings has its distinctive great buildings that fill both sides of al-Futuh. cheese, biscuits and fruits turned souk 14km north of Beirut, story that tells of the richness of the the street leads to another of more Another great building in the into bazaars. Shops that used to the Zouk Mikael International history of this country.” greatness. street is also the Abu Bakr Mazhar sell traditional Egyptian food, such Summer Festival features Arab Mosque, which is 537 years old. This as falafel and beans, turned to sell- and international artists. mosque was built by noted religious ing handmade carpets and rugs as scholar Zain al-Deen Abu Bakr ibn residents prepared for the return of Hammamet: Mazhar al-Ansari. The mosque’s tourists. July 8-August 26 central door is a piece of art. It has The renovation brought life back geometrically shaped and star- to the street and tourists are return- Hammamet, a Tunisian town carved bronze ornaments. The pul- ing but Egyptians are also rediscov- on the northern edge of the pit, the ablution area and the aisles ering the place. Gulf of Hammamet, hosts the of the mosque are so admirable that The street has turned into an un- 53rd Hammamet International a visitor would need to tour these matched place of rest and contem- Festival. Concerts and plays areas several times to appreciate the plation for Egyptian civil servant are scheduled for more than a extent of their beauty. Tamer Maghrabi. month. “Although we talk about a mere “A visit to this place takes you street, a one-day tour is never on a tour into the depths of Islamic We welcome submissions of enough for visitors to see everything history,” said Maghrabi, 40. “With calendar items related to and enjoy every detail of the build- no entrance ticket, no costly trans- cultural events of interest to ings here,” Gaber said. “Every single port to it and very affordable drinks travellers in the Middle East building is a study in the period in at one of its many cafés, this street and North Africa. which it was built.” gives visitors an eye-opening expe- Please send tips to: Al-Muizz Street suffered from ne- rience that is better than reading a [email protected] A view of Al-Muizz Street by night. (Saeed Shahat) glect for years as its historical build- thousand history books.”.
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