Montazah Gardens

Montazah Gardens Review

When the descendents of Mohammed Ali became khedives (princes) of Egypt in the mid-18th century, they began to surround themselves with the trappings of a royal lifestyle, and one of these rewards was the lavish El Montazah palace, built outside Alexandria in the 1890s by Khedive Abbas Hilmi Pasha. During the era of Egyptian Royalty (1922-1952) the palace, enlarged in ornate Italianate style by King Faoud and surrounded by acres of lush gardens, played host to lavish parties. It was from here that Faoud's son King Farouk made his last journey on Egyptian soil after his abdication in 1952. He went into exile in Rome, Italy, and died there in 1965. Today the palace (under renovation at this writing) is part of the presidential property portfolio. The formal gardens, with their flower beds, lawns, and beaches, offer a shady place to stroll or picnic and are very popular with local families.