The final touches are being added to the restoration of Cairo’s Mohamed Ali Palace ahead of its reopening as a newly revamped museum, the tourism ministry said on Monday.
The palace premises were inspected by Egypt’s tourism minister Khaled El-Enany on Wednesday, who was accompanied by a delegation of officials from the country’s state-affiliated Supreme Council of Antiquities.
The palace, which was built over a period of 13 years between 1808 and 1821, was historically the second home of the founder of modern Egypt, Mohamed Ali, who built it on the banks of the Nile away from his landlocked citadel in Old Cairo.
Restoration of the palace began in 2015 following a car bomb targeting a nearby security building which caused a number of the palace’s fixtures to break, and destroyed all of the dining room’s stained glass windows.
None of the museum’s treasured artefacts were damaged in the explosion, however, as they were all stored in one of the palace’s large rooms pending the completion of planned renovations, which up until that point had been stalled.
The larger palace complex houses two smaller residences, each with a unique history and story. One of the residences is named El-Fasqiah Palace, used for receptions and festivals. The other is the smaller Gabalaya residence, which was home to the women of the palace.
The El-Fasqiah Palace, known for heavily featuring marble in its construction, has had its floors and wall fixtures completely replaced, said the ministry’s statement. The palace’s wooden fixtures have also been replaced to remove much of the old wood, many portions of which had rotted over the years.
A new walkway has been built on the palace’s grounds, which will be home to restaurants, cafes and souvenir bazaars. The new walkway will also feature the newly built security kiosks and a carpark for visitors.
A small pedestrian bridge has also been built, linking the palace’s grounds with the nearby marina on the banks of the Nile. The marina has also been revamped to receive tourists arriving at the palace by boat.
Furthermore, the entire palace is being installed with plaques that will inform visitors of the historical significance of the its artefacts.
The palace’s garden is known for housing several old and rare species of trees and shrubs. Labels will be added, to inform visitors of their age and rarity.
Mohamed Ali Palace is known for combining the European decorative style with Islamic architectural planning, which has given the palace its unofficial nickname of Egypt’s Versailles. The palace also houses a host of paintings of Mohammed Ali and his family members.
Restoration work on the palace has cost the tourism ministry more than EGP 200 million ($12.7m) since it began in 2015. It is expected to start receiving visitors towards the end of the year.
The years Ramadan fell in May
England's lowest Test innings
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- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
