The great courtyard
Two levels of arcades.
Mustafa Waad Saeed — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Samir Al-Ibrahem — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Samir Al-Ibrahem — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Taisir Mahdi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Samir Al-Ibrahem — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Mustansiriya Madrasa is an Abbasid seat of learning on the east bank of the Tigris in Baghdad, founded by Caliph al-Mustansir in 1227. It is among the finest survivals of Abbasid Baghdad and one of the oldest centres of higher education in the Islamic world. Its broad courtyard and brick facades carry delicate geometric patterns. It taught medicine, mathematics, literature, grammar, philosophy and religious studies, with a main focus on Islamic law, and became the leading school in Baghdad in its day. It was damaged during the Mongol siege of Baghdad in 1258, and periods of decline and revival followed. The Iraqi antiquities directorate oversees it today and continues restoration work. You enter a rectangular courtyard surrounded by two levels of arcades and rooms, with a great iwan at the centre of each side and patterned brickwork above the gateways. The long inner corridors are quiet, lit through narrow openings. The best time for photos is when the sun lights the facades in the afternoon. It lies about 300 m in a straight line from Al-Mutanabbi Street and about 200 m from Khan Murjan, so it is easy to combine them on foot. We found no confirmed hours, so go in the daytime on a working day. Dress modestly. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to this area, so check official guidance before planning.
Two levels of arcades.
Geometry on the facades.
Long and quiet in soft light.
East bank of the Tigris, Rusafa side, Baghdad, Iraq
Khan MurjanKhan Murjan is a 14th-century building in the old souk of Baghdad, built by Amin3 minutes walk
Al-Mutanabbi StreetAl-Mutanabbi Street is a narrow pedestrian street at the heart of old Baghdad ne4 minutes walk
Abbasid PalaceThe Abbasid Palace is a late Abbasid brick complex near the east bank of the Tig10 minutes walk
The Iraq MuseumThe Iraq Museum is the national museum of Iraq, on the Karkh side of Baghdad, wi15 minutes walkYes, Al-Mutanabbi Street and Khan Murjan are a few steps away.
Medicine, mathematics, literature and religious studies, with a main focus on law.