Montazah Palace, or Asr el Montaza as it is known in Arabic, is a palace, museum, and extensive gardens located in the Montaza district of Alexandria, Egypt. Imagine a majestic palace rising from the shores of the Mediterranean, its elegant facade a captivating blend of European grandeur and Ottoman opulence. Steeped in over a century of captivating narratives, the palace was envisioned as a luxurious summer escape for Egyptian royalty. Alexandria was traditionally the place where wealthy went to escape the summer heat, This included the ruling family of Egypt.
Montazah Palace is one of the greatest distinctions in Alexandria, in this place that you cannot miss. Then it is a place to discover and explore in great tranquility along with your walkthrough Alexandria. Montazah Royal Gardens is distinguished by its beautiful gardens and royal palaces.
A Royal Vision Takes Form
The story of Montazah Palace begins in the late 19th century, a time of immense transformation for Egypt. The Palace court gladly hosted the first Arab Summit in 1968. Over the years, Montazah Palace witnessed the changing tides of Egyptian history.
According to court chronicler Ahmed Shafik Pasha the location of the late 19th century Montazah Palace came about during a moonlight trip by Khedive Abbas Hilmi. At the time, Alexandria's eastern border was demarcated by his mother’s Palace of Sorrows (a.k.a. Saray al-Ramleh), at what later became known as Victoria tram terminal. Beyond this point it was all sandy hills, beaches and bays pockmarked with palm trees.
"With him on this particular moonlight escapade was his secretary Rolier Bey, Ali Shaheen Bey from Protocol and myself, along with a 40-pax retinue including a musical band," says Shafik. All participants rode 'Makaria' donkeys. The first stop was at Sidi Bishr where a sheik by the same name is buried. Fascinated by the topography which included several grottos, various hilltops and a speck of an island, Khedive Abbas decided to build a summer palace in these parts.
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Enquiring as to who owned the surrounding land, he was told that except for a small plot of land on which stood a wooden hut belonging to the wealthy Alexandrian Monsieur Augustino Sinadino, the entire land belonged to the Coastguard Department, which accounted for the two remaining lookout points and a few old canons from the days of Viceroy Mohammed Ali.
The Construction and Expansion
The extensive Montaza Palace grounds first had the Salamlek Palace, built in 1892 by Khedive Abbas II, the last Muhammad Ali dynasty ruler to hold the Khedive title over the Khedivate of Egypt and Sudan. Al Salamlik, was built in 1892 as a hunting lodge for the Khedive and his friends.
Hereafter was born the Salamlik designed by incumbent court engineer Fabricius Bey with a few changes subsequently introduced by the khedive's favorite architect, the Austrian Antonio Lasiac. As for the landscaping, flora and fauna (including gazelles), this was left entirely to Abbas Hilmi's whim. Eagerly assisting him in in these mundane tasks was his Hungarian paramour, Countess May von Torok whom he eventually married (and later divorced).
The larger El-Haramlek Palace and royal gardens were added to the Montaza Palace grounds, being built by King Fuad I in 1932, as a summer palace. By 1932, King Fouad was commissioned to build a much larger palace known as Haremlik. With a mix of Florentine and Turkish architecture, the palace is a stunning example of some of the influences that drove design in Egypt, from remnants of Ottoman rule to the flourishing Italian community that lived in the country at the time.
It is in a mixture of Ottoman and Florentine styles, with two towers. One of these towers rises distinctively high above with elaborated Italian Renaissance design details. One of these towers typically rises high above with elaborate Italian Renaissance design details.
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The family of Mohammed Ali stayed in this palace while it remained in power from the mid-19th century until the year 1952. The world-famous Haramlik was added during the reign of King Fouad. It would later become a cultural landmark as an international casino during the shortl-lived administration of the Italian-run Montazah-Mokattam Company, which had leased Montazah Palace shortly after the 1952 coup that toppled the monarchy.
President Anwar El-Sadat renovated the original Salamlek Palace as an official presidential residence. In addition to containing Montazah Gardens Royal Field Inquiry, the site is also home to the Haramlek which is the site of a casino and a museum. El-Haramlek-Montaza Palace is a public museum of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty family history and objects d'art.
Montazah Palace was built on a hilltop engulfed by gardens and groves stretching over a 370-feddan area heralding the last of royal palaces during the royal epoch. It stands tall radiating a distinct Florentine-style architecture and girdled in gardens and groves. Facing the palace, boldly stands a royal greenhouse established by King Fouad in 1934. The 3-thousand-meter greenhouse boasts of the rarest of plants that managed to survive time. It further houses 75-year old evergreen tropical plants.
The palace court comes surrounded by upper floors, including royal suites. The marble court floors and geometrical-shaped column bases speak of beauty and splendor. The palace contains a lift for the upper floors made of the rarest types of wood.
Architectural Styles
Montazah Palace stands as a testament not only to a bygone era but also to the rich tapestry of artistic influences that shaped Egypt’s architectural landscape. The Haramlek palace has a distinctive design that combines different types of styles with the Byzantine style dominant. This is beside the Gothic, Classic, and of course Islamic styles of architecture, and it was decorated richly in the Baroque and Rococo styles that consist of amazing ornaments of plants and geometric designs.
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The Gardens of Montazah Palace
The Montazah Palace gardens, known as the Montazah Gardens, are extensive and beautifully landscaped grounds that surround the palace. These gardens are one of Alexandria’s most famous attractions, covering an area of approximately 150 acres. In these gardens, you will find a kingdom of nature worthy of admiration, where tall palm trees abound. The vast grounds of Montaza Palace first had the Salamlek Palace, built-in 1892 by Khedive Abbas II, the last Muhammad Ali dynasty ruler to hold the Khedive title over Egypt and Sudan.
The garden of Al Montazah which is 3000 meters wide contains a huge selection of trees and plants and some of them are quite rare. Some of the tropical plants are still in good shape although they have been planted more than 120 years ago, and the plant collection in Montazah includes: Catania, huge boots, Zamia, Carlota, and special types of palms. Al-Montazah Palace is surrounded by lush gardens with a Victorian bridge that takes you to a sandy cove and to a small island of Pylons.
Exotic Gardens: Stepping outside the palace walls, we enter a paradise unlike any other. The sprawling palace gardens offer a tranquil escape from the bustle of the city. Relaxation in the Gardens: The sprawling palace gardens offer a tranquil escape from the bustle of the city.
The property includes an enclosed cove, with a specially constructed deck that allows small pleasure boats to come easily in and out of the bay without any worries of rough waters beyond the reach of land. Whose function was that of container for the rise of the tide?
Facing the palace, boldly stands a royal greenhouse established by King Fouad in 1934.
Royal Greenhouse Movie
Montazah Palace's terrain is generally 370 acres with huge gardens to visit. The properly manicured facades here feature many varieties of big-flowering trees and bushes for fragrance, like tall coconut palms, lowered beds of colorful flowers, and scented geraniums full of citrus trees. The greenery supplied here offers serenity, which, in conjunction with the beautiful background of the sea, creates a perfect setting.
Montazah Palace as a Museum
Transformed into a public museum, the palace offers visitors a captivating glimpse into the lives of Egypt’s Muhammad Ali dynasty. Al-Haramlik Montaza Palace is a public museum of the Muhammad Ali dynasty family history and art objects. The museum at Montazah Palace houses a diverse collection of objects that once belonged to the royal family. Imagine meticulously crafted furniture adorned with intricate marquetry, reflecting the exquisite taste of the royals.
Montazah Palace is in Alexandria, Egypt. It was first built as a summer residence for the kings of Egypt, and the museum combined natural beauty with the sea, along with an interior full of lovely possessions and art that were part of the furniture. Nowadays, the Montazah Palace has been opened to the public and is a place that people hold incredibly dear for both its historical value as well as its breathtaking views.
Key Events in Montazah Palace History
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Construction of Salamlek Palace by Khedive Abbas II | 1892 |
| Construction of El-Haramlek Palace and royal gardens by King Fuad I | 1932 |
| Egyptian Revolution, monarchy toppled, palace opened to the public | 1952 |
| Renovation of Salamlek Palace as presidential residence by President Anwar El-Sadat | N/A |
Montazah Palace has become a symbol of Egypt's cultural heritage and architectural creativity, where any visitor steps into history and luxuriates in the official history of Alexandria.
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