Montaza Palace

Montaza Palace, also called Asr el Montaza, is a beautiful palace, museum, and garden area in the Montaza district of Alexandria, Egypt. It sits on a low hill that looks out over the Mediterranean Sea and a sandy beach.

The palace was built to be a relaxing place where people could enjoy nature and learn about history. Today, it is open to visitors who can walk through the gardens, see the old palace buildings, and learn more about Egypt’s past.

Alexandria, where Montaza Palace is located, is a famous city by the sea. It has many old buildings, museums, and places to explore, making it an important part of Egypt’s history and culture.

History

The Montaza Palace grounds began with the Salamlek Palace, built in 1892 by Khedive Abbas II. It was used as a hunting lodge and a home for his companion.

Later, King Fuad I added the larger El-Haramlek Palace and royal gardens in 1932. This palace has a mix of Ottoman and Florentine styles, with two tall towers. One tower stands out with beautiful Italian Renaissance details. President Anwar El-Sadat later renovated the Salamlek Palace for official use, and it was most recently used by former president Hosni Mubarak.

Public access

El-Montaza Park, once the large royal gardens covering 300 acres (120 hectares), is now open to the public as a beautiful landscape park and forest reserve.

El-Haramlek—Montaza Palace serves as a public museum showcasing the history and art of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty family. Nearby, El Salamlek Palace has been turned into a hotel.