CAIRO: On a recent press trip arranged by Art Cairo, which ran Jan. 23-26, the organizers treated visitors to a tour of the Egyptian capital’s cultural hotspots — including some unmissable tourist favorites and sites that sit off the beaten path. For those planning a trip to the bustling city, it’s a valuable guide to how best to appreciate Cairo’s rich cultural history.
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Our first stop was Aisha Fahmy Palace, an elegant, reddish-brown residence built in 1907 on the banks of the Nile in the Zamalek district, and named after the daughter of Egyptian aristocrat and King Fuad I’s army chief, Ali Fahmy.
Aisha Fahmy Palace, Cairo. (Shutterstock)
Architecturally, the palace reflects a European neoclassical style (it was designed by Italian architect Antonio Lasciac) blended with local influences, with ornate façades, marble staircases, intricate woodwork and richly decorated interiors. For decades, it served as a private residence before being transferred to the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. Today, it functions as a bridge between Cairo’s aristocratic history and its contemporary cultural life, regularlyhosting exhibitions, performances and interdisciplinary artistic projects. During Art Cairo, it was the location for an exhibition of Egyptian art — depicting key moments in its history — titled “Soura min Masr” (A Picture from Egypt).
