Jump to content

Abdin Palace

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by SmackBot (talk | contribs) at 03:43, 11 March 2006 (RM caps in section headers, minor fixes. using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Abdin Palace is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Egypt. It is located in central Cairo.

History

Abdin Palace is considered one of the most sumptuous palaces in the world in terms of its adornments, paintings, and large number of clocks scattered in the parlors and wings, most of which are decorated with pure gold.

Built by Khedive Ismail, to become the official government headquarters instead of the Citadel of Cairo, this palace was used as well for official events and ceremonies. Abdin Palace was so called as it was built on the debris of a house owned by the Turkish Prince Abdin Bey.

Construction started in 1863 and continued for 10 years but the palace was officially inaugurated in 1874. Erected on an area of 24 feddans, the palace was constructed by the French architect Rousseau along with a large number of Egyptian, Italian, French and Turkish decorators. However, the palace’s garden was added in 1921 by Khedive Tawfiq on an area of 20 feddans.

The cost of building the palace reached 700,000 Egyptian pounds in addition to 2 million Pounds for its furnishing. More money was also spent on the palace’s alteration, preservation and maintenance by consecutive rulers.

The palace includes 500 rooms.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abdin_Palace&oldid=43242250"