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The ministry of Antiquities starts the conservation and development of both Al-Ashraf Khalil and Fatemah Khatoun Domes located at the Al-Ashraaf Street in Al-Khalifa area. The project is carried out in collaboration with Al-Athar Lina Initiative (The Antiquity is for us) and Built Environment Collective (Mogawra).
Mohamed Abdel Aziz, General Director of Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Project explains that the development project aims to preserve the domes and conserve them as well as transferring the area in front of them into a public park including an open-air theater, cafeteria, a library and a playing ground area for children. An administrative building is to be provided.
Abdel Aziz pointed out that this project is part of a long plan to develop the Al-Khalifa area, both archaeologically and urbanely in a step towards upgrading its residents’ living standard as well as promoting tourism
Fatima Khatun was the wife of Sultan Qalawun and the mother of his eldest son and first heir, Malik Al-Saleh Alladin Ali Ibn Qalawun. Her mausoleum was once part of the Al-Madrasa Al-Khatuniya and Madrasa Umm Al-Saleh, and was used as a tekiya, or Sufi hostel, during the Ottoman period. The madrasa (school) is no longer exists.
The mausoleum of Al-Ashraf Khalil was founded in 687 A.H./ 1288 A.D. by Al-Sultan Al-Ashraf salah el-Din khalil ibn Qalawun. The mausoleum lower part is built with stone crowned stalactites, while the drum and the dome are built with brick.
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