Public fountains into cultural centers

Seven historic sabil (public fountains) are to be restored and converted into cultural centres under the supervision of the Cultural Development Fund.

Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni said that the fountains used to be public water supplies, but the advent of running water in all households made the sabil obsolete.

No longer at the mercy of the elements or encroachments, the converted fountains would be superb venues for artistic and cultural activities.

Their original architecture will not be altered, Hosni said, adding that the concept of restoring and reusing old buildings is part of a comprehensive antiquities preservation plan.

The sabil that were selected for the project were among monuments of the first two phases of the four-phase upgrade project of Old Cairo, which houses that some 47 buildings. Phases three and four include the restoration of 74 monuments this year.

Salah Shoqeir, director of the Cultural Development Fund said that the original Sabil had a kuttab, a place for learning and reciting the Qur'an.

One out of the seven sabil; the Madrassa al-Aini was built in 818 AH (1411 AD) in the Mamluk age, the remainder belong to the Ottoman period.