History of Zamalek/ Gezira, and who developed it?

Visit Zamalek on the north end of the island to stroll in the quiet, tree-lined streets. In recent years the neighborhood has been more densely developed, but some of the grand villas that covered the island 100 years ago when it was an enclave reserved for diplomats, colonial officials, and Egyptian aristocracy still remain. Zamalek also hosts some of Cairo’s finest restaurants and shops.
Cairo Tower, the Gezira Club, and the new Cairo Opera House dominate the south end of the island. The Gezira Club was originally the British officers club during colonial occupation, but today it is an exclusive club populated by foreigners and the Egyptian elite. Cairo Tower, built-in 1962 by President Gamal Abdel Nasser, offers an impressive panoramic view over Cairo. On a clear day, you can see both the minarets of Cairo’s Citadel to the east and the peaks of the Pyramids in the west. The Opera House is a towering modernist update on Islamic architectural traditions and has a program consisting of opera, ballet, theater, and contemporary music performances.


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Sequoia—a luxurious outdoor restaurant at the northern point of the island provides delicious Lebanese/Egyptian Mezza, beautiful views of the river, and unmatched ambiance. Review here.
ِAncient Egyptian History
- The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
- Alexander the Great | Egypt History
- Queen Hatshepsut | Luxor | Egypt
- Tutankhamoun King | Ancient Egypt Kingdom
- Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi
- King Ramses II: Facts, Accomplishments, Life and Death
- Sultan Mohammad Ali
- Amr Ibn Al-Aas
- The Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
- The New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt
- Greco-Roman Period
- Early Islamic Period in Egypt
- Mamluk and Ottoman Period
- Egypt in the Modern Era
- Behind the Throne: Exploring the Life and Reign of Queen Cleopatra of Egypt
Cairo Attractions
- Al Aqmar Mosque | Cairo | Egypt
- Sultan Al Mansur Qalawun Mosque | Cairo
- Al Azhar Mosque | Cairo | Egypt
- Amr Ibn Al Aas Mosque | Old Cairo
- Mu’ayyad Mosque and Bab Zuweila
- Museum of Islamic Art | Cairo
- Sultan Hassan Mosque & Madrasa | Islamic Cairo
- Ibn Tulun Mosque and Gayer Anderson Museum
- Bayt Al Suhaymi in Cairo | Al Suhaymi House
- Cairo Opera House
- The Coptic Museum in Cairo
- The Egyptian Museum in Cairo
- El Ghorya | Attractions in Cairo Egypt
- Ben Ezra Synagogue | Coptic Cairo
- Khan El Khalili Bazaar
- Old Cairo and Coptic Cairo
- Salah El Din Citadel in Cairo | Egypt
- The Hanging Church | Coptic Cairo
- Al-Muizz Al-Deen Allah Street
- Downtown Cairo
- Zamalek / Gezira
- Islamic Cairo
- Souk Al Khayamiya | Tentmakers Bazaar
Alexandria Attractions
- Alexandria Travel Guide | Egypt
- Marsa Alam Information
- Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria | Fort Qaitbay Egypt
- Pompey's Pillar (Column) in Alexandria | Egypt
- Al Alamein | Mediterranean Sea Egypt
- Alexandria Library Egypt | Bibliotheca Alexandria
- Experience the Heart of the Mediterranean: Your Guide to the Best Things to Do in Alexandria, Egypt
- The Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa | Alexandria
- Greco-Roman Museum
- Lighthouse of Alexandria
- Montazah Park Alexandria | Egypt
Luxor Attractions
Aswan Attractions
Nile Valley
Red Sea and Sinai
Ports of Call
Lake Nasser
Egyptian Culture and Travel Info
Explore Cairo's museums, starting with the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and then head to the Egyptian Museum.
Enjoy a camel ride at Giza Pyramids for 2 hours during the sun rise or sun set. Mount a camel and ride it through the desert to the base of the Great Pyramid. There are horses if a camel seems a bit intimidating.
Fly from Cairo to Aswan for a 4-day cruise tour on the Nile. Visit Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Philae Temple, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Nile Valley
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the Mu’ayyad Mosque is still one of the most beautiful mosques in the city, a tribute to Sultan Mu’ayad’s reputation as a great patron of architecture in Cairo.

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The Mosque of Ibn Tulun was built as the ceremonial center of the new capital Al-Qatta’i.

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The Egyptian Museum is hard to miss on any tour of Cairo. Opening in 1902, it was purpose-built to house the antiquities of Ancient Egypt.

The complex was a built as a unique, multi-use space. It included the mosque and the mausoleum, but also a sabil that provided free water to the people, administrative space, and a covered market among other things.

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