Al Gawhara Palace Cairo Egypt tours, booking, prices, reviews
Al Gawhara Palace Cairo located in the Southern Section of the Citadel. In fact, Al Gawhara Palace means the Jewel Palace. The entrance of Gawhara Palace is in front of Mohammad Ali mosque. The palace became a museum nowadays. It is although it doesn’t have many displays. Gawhara Palace in Cairo features wonderful architectural elements, rich decorations and the amazing furniture. They used by Mohamed Ali and his Royal Family. The structure of the palace has a weird name. Of course there is a story behind this name. The name of Al Gawhara Palace actually originated from the name of Gawhara. She was the last wife and among the most favorite wives of Mohamed Ali. The palace also functioned as a museum. It is hosting the valuable belongings of the last Royal Family of Egypt. This is after the Egyptian Revolution in 1952.
In this year Egypt transformed from a kingdom to a republic. In fact, Mohamed Naguib was the first president of Egypt Republic. Al Gawhara Palace Cairo actually constructed by Mohamed Ali in the period from 1811 till 1814. The Palace consists of many halls, rooms, and chambers. In fact, the palace walls and ceiling decorated with golden ornaments in the baroque style. That featured with the repeated decorative styles and many natural scenes. The palace constructed over the ruins of some Mamluk palaces. They constructed during the reigns of Al Ashraf Qaitbey and Sultan El Ghoury. The Palace functioned as the seat of the power of Mohamed Ali. It was where he held his official meetings and ceremonies.
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Mohamed Ali has lived in one of the Mamluk Palaces in Cairo. It was in the neighborhood of Azbakeya when he became the ruler of Egypt in 1805. When Mohamed Ali was able to expel Khroshed Pasha, he decided to have the Citadel as his headquarter. Mohamed Ali, ordered his men to restore many sections of the Citadel. They were like the gates, the fortified walls and the monitoring towers of the structure. Mohammad Ali also constructed some new buildings in the Citadel. He built the rooms soldiers barracks and bureaus for the administration. Moreover, he also built factories for manufacturing weapons. He also built a factory house and schools for the army soldiers and officers.
Mohammad Ali also built a Palace for his house and the Haramlek as well. Moreover, he also built Dar El Mahfouzat which means the archives building. The Palace constructed following a distinctive style of architecture. This style was a mixture between the Ottoman and the European style. The Ottomans surly knew how to construct palaces. Al Gawhara Palace Cairo has the main hall or what they used to call The Higher Council of Mohamed Ali. He used it to rule Egypt with the help of the country’s religious man. The displays of the palace include many royal paintings, outfits and clothes. They also include furniture and many other interesting displays. They grab the attention of the visitors as soon as they enter the palace.
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There is also the magnificent throne hall with its rich decoration and original furniture. It was where Mohamed Ali used to welcome his guests and hold his official meetings. There are also the Alabaster hall and the clocks collection hall. They all rich decorated with expensive ornaments. Al Gawhara Palace had some fires and the last one was in the year 1972. The Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities has put an extensive plan. This plan was to restore the palace. The restoration plan contains restoring and renewing some sections. These section opened for public visits. This is besides adding some halls to the building. They connected to the palace from its eastern side. This side used for welcoming the guests in the reign of Mohamed Ali. It closed from the year 1952 until 1983.
The restoration process also included rebuilding the main facade of the palace. The main facade is overlooking Mohammad Ali mosque in Cairo Citadel. The entrance gate of the Al Gawhara Palace rebuilt quite like the original one. The whole structure has treated from the architectural aspect. The paintings of the walls redone and the portraits of the palace restored and renewed. The walls and rooms all restored. In fact, it was to appear as original as they were before the fire of the year 1973. Moreover, the palace has Huge Mirror put in golden frame. Guests view upon entering from the main gate of the palace facing the Mohamed Ali. There is reason for pitting that mirror in that location. It enabled the guests to take a final look on their appearance. This is before entering the palace and meeting Mohammad Ali.
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In the second floor of the palace, there is another mirror in the same golden frame. There are also some notable paintings of the kings and the Royal Family members. Another wonderful decorative feature that can found in the Al Gawhara Palace Cairo. It is the small statues of angels. They attached to the walls of the different rooms and halls of the palace. The main section of the third floor of the palace is the Guests’ Hall of Mohamed Ali. It hosts the golden made throne that he used to sit in during important meetings and ceremonies. The throne made out of the best types of wood and ebony. It coated with gold all over forming one of the most magnificent thrones in the whole world.
In the guest’s Hall, beside the golden throne of Mohamed Ali, there are many chairs and sofas. It is where the Egyptian and foreign officials used to sit. It is while they are attending a meeting with the King of Egypt. To the far opposite of the throne, there is a large sofa. It used to function as a waiting area for the people coming to meet Mohamed Ali. An open courtyard located in the third floor of the Al Gawhara Palace . It used to hold ceremonies and celebrations attended by Mohamed Ali. And also by members of the Royal Family, rich merchants of Egypt, and many other guests. The third floor of the palace also hosts the Livery Hall. It is where most the wedding ceremonies of the Royal Family held. The hall has some wonderful crystal lamps and different photos.
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They gathered from several wedding ceremonies, and a salon designed in the French style. Gawhara was the avenue where Mohamed Ali massacred the Mamluks. It was in the beginning of his ruling period in Egypt. Ottomans assigned Mohammad Ali to be the ruler of Egypt under their authority in 1805. Mohammad Ali wanted to be the sole king of Egypt. He knew that the threat does not come from Ottomans, but from the Mamluks. Mamluks have ruled over the country for quite a long period of time.
Mohamed Ali was a skillful political leader. He showed the Mamluks that he will cooperate with them and they believed him. He invited many of their leaders and major officers to a feast. In fact, he invited them in his palace of Al Gawhara Cairo in the Citadel. The Mamluks ate a lot of food. While they were exiting the Citadel, Mohamed Ali and his soldiers attacked Them. He killed most of them. Some Mamluks who were able to escape fled away from Egypt. It was the end of a long period of time when the Mamluks were dominating the political life of Egypt.
