Secrets and
stories of Cairo’s streets
The streets of any city are an open book narrating the history of this city and possibly the history of the whole nation, and the street signs are the pages of this book. Mohammad Ali Pasha, the founder of modern Egypt, was the first ruler who issued a decree to give names to Egypt's streets and a number to each building as well as putting street name signs.
In a scene that blends elegance, luxury, and the fragrance of history,
the streets and buildings of Khedival Cairo, founded by Khedive
Ismail, come into view in the heart of the capital, which rivals Paris in
beauty.
A closer look at those streets reveals Alfy Bey Street, which bore witness
to many historical and artistic events that had a significant effect on shaping
the Egyptians' cultural and political consciousness.
Al-Alfy Street links Orabi Square and Al-Gomhoria Street. It is just a
few meters away from Ataba Square. First, Let’s know the figure who the
street was named after.
Who is Mohammad Bey Al-Alfy?
The street was named after the Mamluk prince "Mohammad Bey
Al-Alfy," who fled to Upper Egypt with the beginning of the French
Expedition to Egypt and stayed there until Mohammad Ali Pasha arrived in Egypt.
Al-Alfy passed away in 1807 and was the last Mamluk prince in Egypt, as his
assassination marked the end of the Mamluk rule in Egypt.
He was one of the Mamluks of Murad Bey, brought to Egypt by a trader in
1189 AH (1775 AD). Al-Alfy was a controversial figure, reportedly on the verge
of usurping the throne from Mohammad Ali Pasha.
He gained significant fame, to the extent that the Ottoman Empire
addressed him instead of Muhammad Ali Pasha, who was the ruler of Egypt at the
time.
Al-Alfy had a palace named after him located along the street on the
opposite side of Azbakia Lake. The lake was later filled in by Khedive Ismail,
who turned it into a garden when he established the Cairo Opera House.
As for Al-Alfy's character, Al-Jabarti described him as a wise-minded
man with a humble spirit. He also said his heart was attached to reading books
and studying sciences such as astronomy, geometry, the shapes of sands,
astrological judgments, calendars, and Selenography. He sought out those
knowledgeable in these subjects to learn from them and acquired books on
various sciences and histories. He secluded himself at home, preferred
solitude, and abandoned the state he was in before.
Story of the Alfy Palace and Napoleon
The name Al-Alfy remains associated with his palace in Azbakia. The
palace was a marvel of its time due to its marble columns, precious wooden
windows, artifacts, and ornate chandeliers gifted by some wealthy Europeans.
As soon as Al-Alfy completed the construction of this palace, the French
Expedition to Egypt arrived, and Napoleon chose to stay in it during the
expedition.
Moreover, the assassination of Kléber took place at the garden of the
palace.
Al-Alfy personally designed the architectural drawings of his palace and
assigned one of his princes to the palace’s construction. However, upon
visiting the site, he noticed a mistake in the building compared to his
drawings. So, he decided to demolish most of what had been built, redesign it,
and assign four princes to oversee the construction, with each prince
responsible for one of the four sides.
Al-Alfy lived in his palace for sixteen days, from the end of Sha'ban in
212 AH until the middle of Ramadan. He then moved to his official residence in
the Sharqiya Governorate. The palace became home to the Alsun school,
established by Rifa'a Al-Tahtawi during the reign of Muhammad Ali. The palace
was destroyed in the Cairo fire on January 26, 1952, and a hotel named
"Shepherd" was built on its ruins.
Alfy Street’s History
Among all the streets in downtown Cairo, Al-Alfy is the only street
where cars are not allowed, according to a decision made in the mid-1990s. That
led to its transformation into a walkway and park for the ordinary people of
Egypt, but many are unaware of the long history of that ancient street,
reflected in its old buildings. Alfy Street in downtown Cairo dates back to the
era of Khedive Tawfiq, who initially named it Tawfik Street until 1906 when its
name was changed to Alfy Street.
The street was once
bustling with shops owned by craftsmen such as tailors, hairstylists, painters,
artisans of decorative pieces and jewelry, and bakers of pastries and desserts.
However, over time, most of these shops transformed into coffee shops. Not too
long ago, a trolleybus line ran through the street from Ataba Square to Giza
Square alongside an automobile station.
Famous landmarks in Alfy Street
Shahrazad Nightclub: It was established by artist Fathia Mohammad as one of the most renowned
artistic schools where monologue artists, singers, and dancers graduated from
over many decades, including Badi'a Masabni, Ismail Yassin, Shokoko, Mohammad
Rushdi, Nagwa Fouad, Zinat Sidqi, Hayatem, Ahmed Adawaya, and Maha Sabri in the
1980s.
Taverna Restaurant: It was built
by a Greek merchant named Taverna, whose name remains unchanged. On the same
side is the famous kebab restaurant "Alfy Bey," established by Hajj
Abdul Qawi in 1938. It was a venue for pashas and state officials, witnessing
significant artistic events. Even now, the restaurant maintains its charm and
elegance despite the passage of time.
New Arizona Theatre: In the past, it witnessed the most memorable theatrical
performances by Naguib Al-Rihany and Yousef Wahbi at their beginnings.
The Adas Building: It has a
unique architectural design, and it is said its owner was a Jewish man named
David Adas, one of the prominent merchants in Egypt.
The first location of Shepheard’s Hotel: It was built by Englishman Samuel Shepheard in 1841 and was named “Hotel
des Anglais” (English Hotel), located where Mohammad Bey Al-Alfy’s palace was,
which later became the headquarters of the French Expedition to Egypt and then
the home of the Alsun school. The Shepheard’s Hotel was located on the edge of
the Azbakia Pond at the intersection of Alfy and Gomhoria Streets.
Alfy Street on Google Maps
El-Qalaa Street
It is one of El-Darb Al-Ahmar's most famous
streets, and it is the last one established in this area. Moreover, its
establishment marked the end of the Islamic era represented in the Fatimid
Cairo and the beginning of modernism in Egypt.
Location:
El-Qalaa Street extends from El-Ataba
El-Khadra Square to Sultan Hasan Mosque and Madrassa.
Name:
El-Qalaa Street was previously known
as Mohammad Ali Street after Mohammad Ali Pasha. The first thought of
establishing El-Qalaa Street was during Mohammad Ali Pasha’s era in 1846. Then
Khedive Ismail assigned the French architect Haussmann, the designer of modern
Paris, to design Khedivial Cairo a part of Khedive Ismail’s plan to
make the city a piece of Europe in which he succeeded, and Cairo became a
masterpiece known as “Paris of the East”.
The Egyptian Government then moved
all the cemeteries and bought all the shops and buildings from the owners to establish
the new street. Then in 1874, the Ministry of Public Works began the
construction under the supervision of Ali Pasha Mubarak. The buildings facing
the street were built with arches crowning the sidewalks to protect the
merchants and pedestrians from the heat and rains inspired by European
architecture which still exists in the boulevards of Paris.
Landmarks:
El-Qalaa Street still has some famous
landmarks such as the Egyptian National Library, built by Khedive Ismail at the
suggestion of Ali Pasha Mubarak, Minister of Education then. They
aimed to collect manuscripts and valuable books that ottoman sultans, princes,
and scholars restricted to mosques, mausoleums, and schools. The library was
the nucleus of a public library inspired by the national libraries in Europe. Further,
there are other landmarks like the Islamic Museum, Mosque of Qaison, Hammam Bashtak, Souq El-Selah,
and Al-Mansara district, which is famous for the furniture manufacturing industry.
El-Qalaa Street on Google Maps
Al-Faggala or Al-Tabbala
Street
Salah Jahin, the famous Egyptian poet
and playwright, says “streets are stories”. Some streets have secrets and beauty discovered by those who look passionately for them
and seek to reveal the features of that beauty that make them
more captivating. So, let’s find out the story of El-Faggala Street:
Location:
Al-Faggala Street extends from Ramses
Street to the beginning of Bab El-Shaaria Street.
Name:
Unlike many streets in Cairo which
were usually named after kings, Ottoman sultans, prominent figures, or a craft
that was famous in the area, Al-Faggala Street was given the name of an
artistic occupation the drummer “Al-Tabbala”. At that time, there was a
conflict between the Fatimid Caliph Al-Mostanser Bi-llah in Egypt and the
Abbasid Caliph El-Qaem Bi Amr Allah in Baghdad. The struggle ended with the
defeat of the Abbasid Caliph. So, the singer of the Fatimid Caliph started
singing and showing her jot at this victory, and because the Caliph admired her
songs, he gifted her this fertile area overlooking the Nile. Later, when the
commander of the armies of the Fatimid Caliph Al-Mostanser Bi-llah came to
Egypt and built orchards around this area, its name was changed to “Basatin
El-Geyoshi”. After a while, it became neglected until Khedive Ismail developed
the area of the railway and Al-Faggala was a part of it. Al-Faggala’s name is
associated with the radish farmers who inhabited the area at this time as well as foreigners and Syrians because
it was near Misr Station.
Significance:
El-Faggala street which was once a cultural
center where there were bookstores, publishing houses, and libraries like” Misr Library” is now a center for selling sanitary
wares.
Landmarks:
El-Room Catholic School, the Jesuit
Church, and the Chaldean Catholic Church are the most significant landmarks on
Al-Faggala Street.
Al-Faggala Street on Google Maps
Al-Saliba Street
Cairo has long been home to numerous historical
monuments, and it is full of famous landmarks and tourist attractions that
always are a top destination in the world. One of which is Saliba Street that
bears witness to the masterpieces of the Mamluk era in Egypt.
Location:
Al-Saliba Street which means “Cross Street”
runs from Al-Qalaa Street to the beginning of Abdel Magid Al-Labban Street,
near Al-Sayeda Zeinab area and intersects with Al-Rakiba Street and Al-Seyoufia
Street making the shape of a cross.
Name:
It is called Al-Saliba because it
looks like a cross.
Significance:
Al-Saliba Street is one of Egypt’s
historic streets that houses numerous Islamic monuments, including mosques,
schools, kuttabs, sabils, khanaqahs, hammams, and
palaces. The Street was the residence of princes and dignitaries during the
Ayyubid Era because of its strategic location on the outskirts of the ancient
Islamic capitals of Egypt. Moreover, the Ayyubids built their military
facilities and weapons factories in this area, including an arms workshop at El-Houd
Al-Marsod area in 1813 and a military academy in 1855.
Furthermore, Al-Saliba Street was a
theatre for many political and social events such as ceremonial parades,
wedding celebrations, and Mamluks’ plots against each other. It was also the
place where El-Nasser Qalawun held his daughter’s wedding celebrations for
three consecutive nights and free food tables were offered to the public.
During Mohammad Ali Pasha’s era, many
statesmen built houses and palaces in this
area due to its significance like Amir Abel El-Latif Pasha House in front of Qanibay
El-Mohammady School. The Alawite dynasty (Mohammed Ali’s dynasty) also built
three pharmacies in the street as pharmacies were a paradigm shift in the field
of manufacturing medicines at that time.
Landmarks:
Al-Saliba street houses an abundance
of Islamic monuments like Ibn Tulun Mosque, the only remaining monument of the
city of Qata’i; the third Islamic capital in Egypt, Al-Ashraf Qaitbay Kuttab
and Sabil, Qanibay El-Mohammady Madrasa, El-Amir Sheikho’s khanaqah Madrasa,
Sabil Um Abbas and the School of ibn Tagriberdi, Gayer-Anderson Museum, and
Amir Sarghatmish Madrasa.
Al-Saliba Street on Google Maps
Port Said Street or previously
“El-Khalig El-Masry” in Cairo is a living witness to Egyptian history from the
Pharaonic era until now. It is also a silent one that does not reveal much,
especially to strangers and young people. While strolling down the street, it
may never cross your mind to ask about its meaning and significance, and perhaps
some have seen it on envelopes or addresses list “10 El-Khalig El-Masry
Street”. Now it is called Port Said and is one of Cairo’s most famous streets where
significant events and popular
celebrations took place.
Location:
Port Said Street is considered the
vital artery that separates Fatimid Cairo and Khedival Cairo. It is located
near Al-Azhar area and extends from Madinet El-Khosos to Fam El-Khalig Street
in El-Manial area.
Name:
Port Said Street was known as
El-Khalig “the bay” as it had one of Egypt’s artificial waterways
(canals) that Egyptian farmers used to irrigate the lands that did not get
enough water from the Nile River. Over the ages, the Street was given many
names like Khalig Ptolemy during Ptolemaic era in Egypt, Khalig Misr, Khalig
El-Fustat, and Khalig Amir El-Mo’minin after Omar Ibn El-Khattab, the second
Muslim Caliph. Then in 1952 after the July revolution, the Street’s name was changed
to Port Said after the Egyptian city Port Said.
Significance:
Just like Venice in Italy, Port Said
Street in Cairo was built on the waters of an old canal built up by Egyptian farmers
for irrigation purposes. So, back then you would see boats and
bridges instead of vehicles and sidewalks, and people used to take long walks
on its banks. Then in 1899, the canal was backfilled when Khedive Ismail built
Cairo water Company.
Port Said Street on Google Maps
Khurunfush Street
Khurunfush Street is
one of Fatimid Cairo’s remarkable streets. It is an extension of Cairo’s
historic street El-Mo’ez Ledin Allah. It is where Fatimid caliphs, ministries,
and princes had lived and held their official ceremonies.
Name:
The word Khurunfush is a deviation of
Khurunshuf, which refers to the fossilized material produced from old baths
fuels and used with lime mortar for construction works. The street became known
as Al-Khurunfush when the Fatimid Caliph El-Aziz Billah used this material to build
back stables next to the western palace.
It became fixed in the minds after giving
the name to the house of Prince Saif El-Din Abu Said Khalil, one of the Mamluk
princes and the Deputy Sultan
Mohammed Ibn Qalawun on Damascus. This house was described by Al-Makrizi as
Cairo’s most beautiful and magnificent house.
Landmarks:
Dar Kiswat El-Kaaba and Saint Joseph
School “Frères School” are the most famous landmarks in Al-Khurunfush Street as
well as silver and brass workshops. It is also the street where president Gamal
Abdel El-Naser lived with his father in 1933 as his father worked at Khurunfush
district’s post office. Moreover, Haret Khamis Ads “Khamis Ads alley” is one of
Khurunfush most important alleys and is named after “Maundy Thursday”, a
Christian holy day in which Egyptian Christians cook lentil soap. While in the past the Fatimids used to
participate in the celebrations and issue commemorative gold coins that were
distributed to State officials.
Khurunfush Street on Google Maps
Al-Seyoufia Street
Al-Seyoufia Street branched off
El-Mo’ez Street is one of Cairo’s most ancient and significant streets that
derived its importance and authenticity from Cairo’s great history. It was the
place of forging swords in Cairo.
Location:
Al-Seyoufia Street runs from the
intersection of Mohammed Ali Street to Al-Saliba Street.
Name:
It was called Al-Seyoufia because it
was full of sword forging workshops during the Mamluk era.
Origins:
Al-Seyoufia Street dates back to the
Tulunid period as it was part of Al-Qata’i city. After urban development, the Street
developed to a residential area during the Ayyubid period, then an aristocratic
neighborhood where Mamluk royalty and elites had lived.
Significance:
Al-Seyoufia Street is famous for its
rich diversity in Islamic monuments. It is home to different types of Islamic
architecture; a Sufi mosque, palace, sabil, kuttab, tekyeh, and Khanqah.
Landmarks:
Tekyehat El-Darawish is the most
famous landmark on Al-Seyoufia Street.
It was established by Egyptian whirling dervishes on the remains of
Sonqer El-Saady Palace and Madrasa. Tekyehat
El-Darawish comprises four sections: a student hostel surrounded by a garden
with a fountain, Sama' Khana "Sufi
theatre", service and
reception area, and main entrance. The Street
also houses Amir Taz Palace which is currently an artistic creativity center.
Al-Seyoufia Street on Google Maps
If you are a bride-to-be or you are
having a baby, Darb El-Barabra is the ideal place for you.
Location:
Darb El-Barabra is located in Musky
district.
Name:
There are different stories about the
reasons behind the name of Darb El-Barabra. Some say that it was named after
the Berber tribes of Morocco, who came with the Fatimids to conquer Egypt, which
is the most likely opinion. Others say
that it is associated with the Nubian workers who came to Cairo in the early 19th
century, and Darb El-Barabra was where they gathered. The Fatimids were the
first to establish el-darb and introduce the dessert industry to Egypt as they
used to distribute desserts and gifts to Egyptians on special occasions and
celebrations. Further, they made candles used in lighting before inventing
electricity.
In modern times, Jews and Greeks
lived at Darb El-Barabra and introduced
Chandelier and antique industry into Egypt, which made the street more attractive
to people.
Darb el-Barabra is related to Egypt’s
history, especially during the British occupation and monarchy as the word
“Barbara” is associated with “El-Haggana”, a group of military guards who rode
camels and were responsible for dispersing demonstrations. Moreover, it still
retains its name even though the name of the street was changed to Kamal
El-Husseiny, Egypt’s first martyr during the tripartite aggression on Egypt in
1956.
Darb El-Barabra on Google Maps
Khan El-Khalili is the most famous
and favorite destinations in Cairo for visitors from all over the world.
Location:
Khan El-Khalili is located in
El-Hussein district, and it is parallel to El-Mo’ez Ledin Allah Al-Fatimi Street.
Name:
Khan El-Khalili bazaar was named after
its founder Emir Djaharks Al-Khalili from El-Khalil city in Palestine, and he
was one of Sultan Barquq’s princes. This bustling street is full of shops,
mosques, and, monuments that attract tourists and locals alike. In the past, it
was part of Fatimid caliphates’ graves, and then in the Mamluk era, the graves
were transferred to be replaced by this bazaar.
Significance:
Khan
El-Khalili bazaar is globally famous for being a market. It offers tourists some of Egypt’s oldest industries
and crafts created by the Egyptian artist embodying Khan El-Khalili’s
authenticity. In khan El-Khalili, you will find all kinds of goods such as
souvenirs, handicrafts, jewelry, antiques, and decorative carpets. Moreover,
Khan El-Khalili was an inspiration for many Egyptian writers like Nagib Mahfouz
as he wrote his famous novel “Khan el-Khalili.”
Khan El-Khalili on Google Maps
Amir El-Geyosh is one of Fatimid
Cairo’s oldest Streets. The street is famous for manufacturing food trucks and
carts. It is full of workshops that forge iron to make colorful shapes of food carts.
If you ever pass through it, you will never miss the endless sounds of
hammering as a symphony played by a group of musicians.
Location:
Amir El-Geyosh connects Bab
El-Shaaria Street to El-Mo’ez Street, near Bab El-Futuh.
Name:
The residents of the area call it “Maragosh-Margosh”
and this name is perhaps an abbreviation for Amir El-Geyosh “prince of the
armies” Badr El-Din El-Gammali, commander of the armies of the Fatimid caliph
El-Mostanser Bellah and the second founder of Fatimid Cairo. He redesigned the
city of Cairo and carried out several expansions making Cairo the world’s
largest city. The street still retains its name and sometimes it is also called
“El-Nahasin Street” for the spread of copper industry craft on it.
Significance:
Amir El-Geyosh Street is
characterized by its old architectural features which are a blend of Fatimid
and Mamluk styles. Moreover, the armies used to pass through this street, and
it was the first one where the “city croft” bus operated in the early fifties.
Amir El-Geyosh Street on Google Maps
Magra El-Oyoun
Street
Once you are near Misr El-Qadima
area, you will be impressed by the magnificent and ingeniously built structure
“Magra El-Oyoun Fence”. This historic five-century old fence structure holds
the fragrance of a prosperous past and the agonies of a deteriorated present.
Location:
Magra El-Oyoun runs from Fum
El-Khalig area in Masr El-Qadima to El- Sayeda Aisha
area.
Name:
The street took its name from Magra
El-Oyoun Fence that was built in the area five centuries ago.
Origins:
Magra El-Oyoun Street was an empty area
separating Misr El-Qadima area, where the Fustat and Amr ibn Al-Aas Mosque is,
and Fatimid Cairo. When Salah El-Din Citadel was built and became the seat of
government, Salah El-Din dug a well
“Yousef well” to supply the Citadel with water from the Nile River, but the
well did not provide enough water. So, the architects of Sultan Mohammed Ibn
Qalawun government built Magra El-Oyoun Fence to carry the water from the Nile
River to the castle. Magra El-Oyoun is considered one of the hugest
water projects.
Magra El-Oyoun Street on Google Maps
Qasr Al-Ainy Pasha
Street… a resort for princes, military prison, and oldest medical school
In the captivating city of Cairo, there lies a rich
history behind every building and street. It has been and is still a witness to
many significant events throughout the ages. In the heart of Cairo near Tahrir
Square, you cannot miss Qasr Al-Ainy Street, one of the most famous streets in
the city. That raises many questions: why is this street named as such? Let’s
explore the history of Qasr Ainy Street through the following lines.
Reasons behind Qasr Al-Ainy Name
Qasr El-Ainy Street’s name was associated with one of
the old mansions owned by El-Ainy Pasha, which later was turned into a hospital
that became the oldest medical school in Egypt.
Usama Shehab El-Din Ahmad Abdel Hamid Badr El-Din
Mahmoud, known as El-Ainy Pasha, had no idea that the mansion he built would,
one day, become the world’s oldest and most famous medical school.
Before it became a hospital, the mansion served as a
military prison during the Mamluk era and later as a hospital for soldiers
during the French Expedition to Egypt. Let us learn more about it below,
starting with the story of the mansion’s owner.
Al-Ainy
Pasha… the story of the mansion’s owner
Ahmad Al-Ainy received the land for the mansion as a
gift from the Mamluk Prince Suliman El-Mahrani during the time of Al-Zahir
Baybars. Ahmad Al-Ainy was the first to construct this area. Once the
construction of the mansion was completed, Ahmad Al-Ainy invited Sultan
Khushqadam, Sultan of Egypt at that time, to inaugurate and visit it. The
sultan accepted the invitation and came to see the mansion, where he admired
the Nile and awarded Ahmad Al-Ainy the rank of military emir.
After Sultan Qaitbay assumed power, he arrested
Al-Ainy Pasha and seized his palace. After promising the Sultan to pay 20,000
dinars each month, he released him. Then he was arrested again. However, he
managed to flee to Mecca.
Ahmed Al-Ainy died in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah and was
buried in Al-Baqi Cemetery in 909 AH. His palace then became state property.
Following the fall of the Mamluk Sultanate and its transformation into an
Ottoman Empire, the Mamluk beys seized the mansion, turning it into a place for
leisure, sometimes serving as a guest residence or a detention center for those
princes who fell out of favor. Sometimes, it served as a residence for the
governor when ousted by the Mamluk princes.
Qasr
Al-Ainy during the French Expedition to Egypt
During the French Expedition to Egypt, the Ainy
mansion became a military hospital, as Napoleon Bonaparte requested that it be
allocated for the soldiers and officers of the French Expedition. After the
assassination of Kléber by Suleiman Al-Halabi, his body was moved to the garden
of the Ainy mansion and buried there. The remains were later taken after the
evacuation of the expedition. The mansion was neglected until Muhammad Ali
Pasha established a military school in 1825. Thus began Al-Ainy mansion's
journey in medicine during Muhammad Ali's era, and he later transformed it into
a hospital led by "Clot Bey."
The
Establishment of Qasr Al-Ainy Medical School
Clot Bey was a French
doctor and was the founder of the Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital. He was chosen by
Muhammad Ali Pasha to introduce European medical techniques into the Egyptian
army, which he was preparing at the time. In 1825, Muhammad Ali appointed Clot
Bey as the chief surgeon, making him the first French surgeon in the Egyptian
army, assisted by several doctors and pharmacists.
Clot Bey began
establishing a military hospital and a medical school that comprised all
medical branches, natural sciences, and languages. He initially selected the
area of Abu Zaabal to set up this institution.
In 1837, the school and
hospital moved from Abu Zaabal area to the Ainy mansion. Later, Clot Bey
traveled to Marseille due to health reasons, until he was called back by
Khedive Said Pasha to manage the medical school, which had suffered from
noticeable neglect in his absence.
It was decided that Clot
Bey would return as the director of the Medical School and the Qasr Al-Ainy
Hospital in 1855 until he died in 1868.
In 1925, the Faculty of
Medicine and Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital were incorporated into the Egyptian
University, and Dr. Wilson was appointed its director. In 1929, Dr. Ali Pasha
Ibrahim was appointed dean of the faculty and hospital and continued to serve
as a dean until 1940.
Qasr
Al-Ainy Hospital Renovation and Establishing New Teaching Hospital
The old Qasr Al-Ainy
Hospital served the Faculty of Medicine for many years, from 1837 until it was
demolished and renovated in the early 1980s. The construction of the new
building project began in 1984, and it was equipped with the latest medical and
engineering equipment to support medical education and patient care. It aimed
to establish a distinguished center for medical research in the Middle East.
The contract for the new
Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital was signed with a French consortium composed of three
companies in 1984.
In November 1995, Cairo
University issued a certificate of receipt for the new Qasr Al-Ainy Teaching
Hospital from the French group, marking the beginning of its initial
operational phase. It is noteworthy that the new building, occupying a large
area on the island of El-Rhoda Island, is no longer referred to as
"new" since the French hospital has now taken on the title of the new
teaching hospital.
Today, Qasr Al-Aini
Hospital is a source of pride for its students as it is the best university for
medical education in the Arab world.
Qasr Al-Ainy Street
Now
Currently, Qasr El-Aini
Street is known as the Resort of Princes or the Square of Employees due to
housing numerous significant Egyptian political decision-making institutions.
It houses Egypt’s
Cabinet, the ministries of education, interior, and housing, in addition to
various press institutions such as Rose Al-Youssef, professional syndicates
like the Medical Syndicate, and cultural entities like the General Authority
for Cultural Palaces, Al-Salam Theater, and Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital.
Qasr Al-Ainy Street on Google Maps
Location:
Ibn Sender
Street begins from the garden in Hadaak El-Qobba district to El-Tahra Palace in
Tahra Square. El-Tahra Palace was built by the Italian architect Antonio Lasciac
for Princess Amina Aziz, daughter of Khedive Ismail in the early 20th
century.
Name:
Ibn Sender Street
was named after Al-Sahabi Masroh ibn Sender, one of Prophet Mohammad’s companions.
Ibn Sender was a slave to Rawh Ibn Zinba El-Guthami and
one day Ibn Zinba got angry at Ibn Sender and punished him by piercing
his nose and ears. So, Ibn Sender rushed to Prophet Mohammad complaining from Ibn
Zinba. Prophet Mohammad then sent a letter to Ibn Zinba asking him to free ibn
Sender. After his freedom, Ibn Sender asked Caliph Omar ibn El-Khattab to send
him to Egypt. When he came to Egypt, Amr ibn Al-Aas gave him a plot of land,
which is surrounding Ibn Sender Street now.
Ibn Sender Street on Google Maps
Introduction
Mohammad
Ezz Al-Arab Street, previously known as Mobtadayan and Ali Yousef, holds within
its corners and sides numerous tales. Its relatively narrow land breathes the
history of figures significantly influenced Egyptian history.
The street witnessed
significant battles, political, social, and urban upheavals. Ezz Al- Arab
Street is one of the shortest streets in Cairo, merely a passage linking two
contrasting worlds. On one side lies the affluent Garden City, proud of its
royal architectural and material past, while on the other is the humble
neighborhood of Sayeda Zeinab, equally rich in historical significance.
The history of
Mohammad Ezz Street
Mohammad Ezz Al-Arab Street is
located at the beginning of the Monira neighborhood. It extends from Qasr
Al-Ainy Street to Al-Sayeda Zeinab in front of El-Saneya Girls Secondary
School. It was established by Al-Nasir Mohammad ibn Qalawun, one of the
prominent sultans of the Mamluk dynasty. He also built palaces on its sides.
However, one does not attain all his heart's desires, as the street later fell
into decline and neglect due to Mamluk wars and conspiracies. Upon the arrival
of the French Expedition, the street became a scaffold for rebels opposing the
occupation.
Suleiman Al-Halabi and his comrades
were executed on that scaffold in front of the people of Cairo following their
trial for the assassination of General Kléber, the leader of the French
campaign after Napoleon Bonaparte. Now, the execution site is occupied by Dar
Al-Oulum Public Park.
Mobtadayan
Even though Mohammad Ezz Street was
changed many times, it retained its original Al-Mobtadayan. It was given the
name Al-Mobtadayan because, in January 1868, the Mobtadayan Primary School was
relocated to the street from the Abbasia and occupied the palace of Osman Bey
Al-Bardisi, one of the Mamluks of Murad Bey.
Sheikh Ali Yousef
The street was also named after
Sheikh Ali Youssef, one of the pioneers of Egyptian journalism, born in Sohag
Governorate in 1863. He established the newspaper Al-Mu'ayyad, which aimed to
fight against the occupation, and among its prominent writers were Sheikh
Muhammad Abdo, leader Saad Zaghloul, Qassim Amin, and others.
Ali Youssef's name became associated
with various issues, one of which was infamously known as the "Telegraph
Case." The Mu'ayyad newspaper published a telegram sent by the commander
of the Egyptian army in Sudan to the Minister of War in Egypt regarding the
military campaign in Dongola, which was highly classified.
That made the British authorities
angry, and they brought Ali Youssef to trial, but the court acquitted him.
Another case that contributed to Ali
Youssef's notoriety among the public was his marriage to Mrs. Safia, daughter
of Sadat. After their engagement, her father delayed the wedding, realizing it
was inappropriate to marry his daughter, a descendant of the noble family of
Sadat to a young man working as a journalist, a profession that did not command
enough respect at the time.
However, with the help of Naqib
Al-Ashraf, they eloped. When her father learned of this, he became furious and
filed a case to annul the marriage due to social disparity. The brilliant
lawyer Mohammad Ezz Al-Arab succeeded in separating the couple and dissolving
their marriage. The couple later reunited in 1905, due to a change in society’s
perspective on the profession of journalism.
Mohammad Ezz
Al-Arab
He is the same brilliant lawyer who
succeeded in the case mentioned above, and his name was given to the street as
if he wanted to defeat him historically, just as he beat him legally by winning
the case and separating him from his wife. To please Ali Yusuf, Monira Street
was changed to his name.
Famous landmarks of
the street
Mohammad Ezz Al-Arab houses many
historic buildings, such as Dar Al-Hilal, a luxurious building, Rose Al-Youssef
newspaper, Dar Al-Oulum, the Commercial International Bank, Al-Monira Hospital,
and several schools.
Last Update: 2024
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