This is the central thoroughfare of Islamic Cairo, the heart of the princely city that was once the capital of the Fatimid Empire (969-1171). The now restored Sharia el-Mouiz li-Din Allah joins the gates Bab al-Futuh (north) and Bab Zuweila (south). It is lined with gems of Islamic architecture: mosques, palaces, caravanserais, madrasas, and hammams. In the adjacent side streets you get a glimpse into the lives of Cairo's working classes, from craftsmen to street vendors, as they go about their business.