It was built as a defense against the Crusader invasions, the original walls still remain intact, however, the original interior building was destroyed by the Sultan Al Nasir of the Mamluks who’s mosque still remains within the walls. From the 19th Century, The enormous Muhammad Ali Mosque was built from the periods between 1824 to 1848 and was designed like the renowned ‘Blue’ Mosque’ in Istanbul Turkey.and is strikingly similar.

The most famous street consists of bazaars, restaurants, and cafes and also the oldest in Egypt.

Steep stairs lead to a 19th-century facade topped by twin bell towers. In a small inner courtyard, vendors sell taped liturgies and videos of the Coptic pope, Shenouda III. The interior feels very similar to that of a mosque. The ebony- and ivory-inlaid screens hiding the altar show the same intricate geometric designs that are distinguishable from Islamic patterns only by the tiny crosses worked on them. One of the columns is darker than the rest; it is believed to represent Judas. The church has 110 icons, including a series describing the life and torture of St George and the life of St John the Baptist, and a very sacred painting of Virgin Mary known as the Coptic 'Mona Lisa'. In the baptistery, off to the right, a panel has been cut out of the floor to reveal the Water Gate below. Still, in use, the church is equally crowded with tourists and parishioners who come to pray over a collection of saints’ relics and an icon of Mary.