so he requested the Awqaf build a larger museum. In 1899 the foundations were laid for the present larger building in the Bab Al-Khalq area of Cairo. The new and current building was designed by Alfonso Manescalo, and was completed in 1902 in neo-Mamluk style, with its upper storey housing the National Library. The old museum in al-Hakim was demolished in the 1970s, during refurbishment of the mosque there. Design The museum faces historic Cairo. It has two entrances: one on the north-eastern side and the other on the south-eastern side. A beautiful garden with a fountain once led to the first entrance but was later removed. The entrance on Port Said Street features a very luxurious façade, rich with decorations and recesses inspired by Islamic architecture in Egypt from various periods. The museum is a two-storey building; the lower floor contains the exhibition halls and the upper floor contains the general stores. The basement contains a store connected with the Restoration Section. Bomb damage On January 24, 2014, a car bomb attack targeting the Cairo police headquarters on the other side of the street caused considerable damage to the museum and destroyed many artifacts. It's estimated that 20-30% of the artifacts will need restoration. The blast also severely damaged the building's façade, erasing intricate designs in the Islamic style. The National Library in the same building was also affected. Reopening Following the car bomb damage there was a period of reconstruction and restoration, during which the majority of affected artefacts were retained. The museum reopened in January 2017. Collection The collection features artifacts from Egypt, North Africa, Andalusia, the Arabian Peninsula and Iran ranging from the 7th to the 19th century. The exhibited artifacts of the right wing of the MIA are divided by the Umayyad, Abbasid, Ayubid, Mamluk and Ottoman periods. The exhibited artifacts of the left wing of the MIA are divided into sections by science, astronomy, calligraphy, coins, stones and textiles, covering various epochs. Gallery References External links official Museum of Islamic Art website Al Ahram article: Museum of Islamic Art AFP article on the Museum of Islamic Art reopening Museums in Cairo Art museums and galleries in Egypt History museums in Egypt Decorative arts museums Islamic culture Medieval Cairo Art museums established in 1858 1903 establishments in Egypt Islamic museums Islam in Cairo Religious museums in Egypt