Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority EGYPT THIS MONTHJune 2012 www.egypt.travel Issue 36 Live Colors Egypt eGYPTiAN ArCHiTeCTure THrouGH THe AGe oF TiMe June . 2012 1

Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority News letter Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority News letter Throughout history Egyptian art and architecture has always On either side, above the entrance, in small roundels, are flourished and has managed to surpass the test of time; the the diamond-shaped napkin blazons of the Jamadar (Sultans scattered historical buildings and monuments all attest to that. Master of Robes). Evidence of one of the many positions A fusion of Moorish, European, African and Pharaonic styles is Al Nasiry held, including being responsible for the Sultans what sets apart Egyptian architecture from any other country. garments. These three houses turned museums - Prince Beshtak Palace, Deliberately curved or bent, the entrance was constructed Kavafi Museum and Manial Palace - are great examples of to secure the palaces residents privacy. The entrance how each era had its own unique style that is different from leads visitors into the palaces main courtyard, which is not the other, but equally beautiful. a reception area as was the custom at the time, but a semi- private area for the palaces residents and their guests to Beshtak Palace dismount. The ground floor is comprised of the storage and service rooms, a prayer hall and a long line of shops that were Engulfed in the midst of old Islamic Cairo and specifically rented out to merchants. near the Katkhuda Sabil, off Al Muizz Li Din Allah street, lies one of that thriving eras most captivating palaces: the Prince Stepping on to the second floor, one is greeted by a Beshtak Palace. spacious qaa (hall). With its pointed arches, stained glass windows gilt and painted wood paneling, it crowns this Built by Prince Beshtak Al Nasiry, sometime between 1334- beautiful qaa as one of the architectural masterpieces of 1339 AD (735-740 AH), this palace is one of the very few that era. During Al Nasirys time, a fountain inlaid with colored surviving examples of fourteenth century Bahari Mamluk marble in geometric patterns stood in the center of the domestic architecture. Prince Beshtak Al Nasiry, a rich and influential prince, held The Africa-Europe Challenge several posts in Sultan Al Nasir Mohamed Ibn Qalawuns (AEC) Sets Sail in Alexandria court. Al Nasiry was also the Sultans son-in-law. Despite his wealth and close ties to the Sultan, one of Al Nasirys bitter On the 25th of May, when the World was celebrat- rivals, Prince Qawsun, had him arrested, imprisoned and later ing Africa Day, the Africa-Europe Challenge, the executed, in addition to taking over all of Al Nasirys properties project that probably will become one of the biggest and claiming them his own. event-series of the two continents has also started. The basics of the program are created by the first ever Despite being originally five floors high, only the two bottom international fleet that will sail around Africa stopping floors survived the test of time. The palaces main faade in 13 African and 2 European countries where cultural, distinguished by its mashrabiya windows overlooks Al Muizz economical, scientific and educational missions will be Eddin Allah Street, while its entrance begins on the northern realized in the host countries. corner of the faade. To promote the Africa-Europe Challenge in Africa, the flagship of the AEC, the Dutch ASTRID tall ship has set her sail from Malta on 25th May to circumnavigate Africa and visit the countries where the AEC fleet will stop in order to invite those countries to participate. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, the Egyptian Tourist Authority and the Hungarian Embassy in Egypt the coastal city of Alexandria is getting ready to host the inaugural event of the first sailing boats race from the 3rd to the 12th of June. In celebration of this event, the historic sail boat, Astried, will stop at the Alexandria port for ten consecutive days. The Astried Live Colors EgyptLive Colors Egypt was built in 1918 and is set to sail around 15 different European and African countries, including Malta, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Nigeria and Morocco. Furthermore, organized trips will be made to the Water Club at Montazah, which will enable the events guests to watch this historical boat. The inaugural party will be held at the lavish Salamlek hotel in Montazah Gardens, in addition to a one of a kind closing cer- emony at the majestic Qait Bay Fortress. http://www.africaeuropechallenge.com/aec 2 June . 2012 June . 2012 3

Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority News letter Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority News letter qaa. Another highlight at the palace is a small museum that documents the city of Cairos rich history. Steigenberger to operate cruise Understanding its historical and architectural significance, ships on the Nile and Lake Nasser several entities were involved in preserving and protecting The Steigenberger Hotel Group announced that it. The palace went through several restoration and in October 2012 it will start operations of three luxury renovation phases, dating back to the 1930s by the Egyptian cruise ships namely Minerva, Legacy and Omar El governmental institution and the Comite de Conservation des Khayam cruising the River Nile and Lake Nasser. Monuments de LArte Arabe. The second phase took place The cruise ships Steigenberger Minerva and in the 1980s and was headed by the German Archeological Steigenberger Legacy will operate between Luxor Institute and most recently, in the late 2000s, the palace and Aswan in three, four and seven night itineraries, became listed among the monuments that were to be whereas the Omar El Khayam will operate on Lake restored as part of the Historic Cairo Restoration Project. Nasser between Aswan and Abu Simbel in three and four night cruises. All three luxury vessels have been Prince Beshtak Palace: recently constructed and offer 70 to 80 cabins, includ- Darb El Qirmiz Alley, off Al Muizz Li Din Allah Street, Old Cairo ing elegant suites, and a range of restaurants and Open Daily from 9am 4pm pools. The ships will be operated in co-operation with Admission: Free the Cairo-based company Travcotels. New Flights by karnak EGYPTAIR Tourism (Karnak) & Duty Free is currently Keeping it Local in the Kitchen considering to operate aircraft for Smart Aviation Company in order to support and boost domestic and at Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa international tourism coming to Egypt from many Arab and European countries. The company plans early flights to Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada from Cairo, and one day trips from Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada to Cairo, as well as one day trips from Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada to Luxor to visit the touristic and archaeological sites. Over and above, regular charter flights to Egypt from several Arab countries, especially Jeddah, Dhahran and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Beirut, Kuwait and Amman, and some European countries, espe- cially Larnaca in Cyprus and Sabiha Airport in Turkey. TEATRO ESKENDRIA A New Art and Culture Space Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa began its local produce TEATRO ESKENDRIA, Alexandrias latest art and program in 2010. The goal was to minimize the hotels culture space, held its primary opening in May. The carbon footprint by buying local goods and produce Live Colors EgyptLive Colors Egypt space is financed by Dr. Mahmoud Aboudoma, the with the spin off benefits that locally bought produce renowned writer and theater director, in addition to tastes better and holds the most nutritious value the a contribution made by the Embassy of the Kingdom faster it is used. of the Netherlands in Egypt and the Culture Resource Locally grown and raised produce now makes up Centre (Al Mawred Al Thaqafy). around 50% of all the ingredients used in the hotels The 320-square meter, Italian architecture style build- dishes and drinks at Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa. ing dates back to 1923 in the historic Downtown area. The chef says, We recently decided to only buy and The center offers an extensive variety of cultural activi- use Egyptian olive oils in our kitchen. We also love to use ties and services to the Egyptian and the International fresh fish from the Red Sea. The herbs we use to flavor community. each dish are grown in our very own garden, which is TEATRO ESKENDRIA will officially launch its services tended to by one of our chefs and our head gardener. on 15 June 2012. 4 June . 2012 June . 2012 5

Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority News letter Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority News letter Majestic Manial Palace Situated a few kilometers away from downtown Cairo, on a luscious green plot of land on Roda Island in Manial, lies one of Egypts architectural treasures, the Manial Palace. The Palace was built between 1899 and 1926 by Prince Mohamed Ali Tawfik, the uncle of King Farouk I, Egypts last king. The nearly 30-year long project resulted in an imposing palace combining a number of different architectural styles including Ottoman, Andalusian, Persian, and European rococo. Nowadays, the palace is divided into numerous sections, halls and museums. These house valuable collectibles that were amassed by Prince Mohammed and King Farouk during their lives, and include medieval manuscripts, clothes, jewels, carpets, textile, furniture and brass work. Theres also a hunting museum where King Farouks hunting trophies and equipment are displayed. A nice addition to the palace is a rare plant garden, where the prince planted tropical and exotic plants and flowers brought back from his frequent voyages., then the paragraph which starts with Following till public. Following the eruption of the 1952 Revolution that overthrew the countrys monarchy, the royal residential compound and Live Colors EgyptLive Colors Egypt everything in it was confiscated by Egypts Supreme Council of Antiquities. The Manial Palace is now an art and botanical museum, open to the public. Address: Roda Island, Manial Telephone: +2 (02) 2368-7495 Opening Hours: 9am-3pm Admission: LE 25 for adults and LE 12 for students 6 June . 2012 June . 2012 7

Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority News letter Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority News letter A Tribute to Culture Discovery of a coffin depicting important religious inscriptions The Kavafi Museum takes you back to Alexandrias thriving culture scene The discovery of a new Pharaonic tomb to Hjoty Nakht, the last district ruler in the First Intermediate Period (1994 - 2150 BC ) was made in Deir Al Barsha region in the Governorate of Al Menya. This is the first time in many years that findings were discovered pre- served in such good condition. The archeological works were in the cemetery of Aha Nakht I, the first ruler of the Middle Kingdom (1994 - 1650 BC) and inside one of the rooms, the tomb of his father, Hjoty Nakht. The inscriptions on the coffin elaborate one of the most important religious text in the era of the Intermediate Kingdom. It also represents a link between the inscriptions on the Pyramid of the Old Kingdom and the famous Book of the Dead in revived to the way it was while Kavafi still lived with help The highlight of the museum is the poets library, which was the era of the new Kingdom. The excavations also of his many friends. Photographs were used to help in the fortunately saved by Cavafologist Professor George Savidis. revealed tools for the religious rites made from ala- reconstruction of the furniture and the apartments general The library spans across two rooms and hung up on its walls are baster, copper and porcelain. Among which were surrounding. black and white photographs of his four brothers, mother and alabaster jars, Offering Tables, headrests, a set of brass Live Colors EgyptLive Colors Egypt father. Also, on display are 158 poems, which were translated vases and dishes and a unique set of ritual tools that Walking into the museum, you are greeted by large ancient into 20 languages by forty different scholars, in addition to were only known through ancient inscriptions. The legendary Greek poet Constantine Kavafi was born Greek wine urns and high ceilings. The front door leads you to numerous articles written on Kavafi that are also hung up on to Greek parents, but spent the last 25 years of his life in a narrow hall, surrounded by different rooms. The hall is sparsely the wall. Alexandria, and has always considered himself the son furnished but is adorned with portraits of the Alexandria loving of the coastal city. Following his death in 1933, his six-room poet. The salon is comprised of a sofa and replicas of two chairs Copies of the poets work is also available for sale at the museum. apartment on Lespius Street now Sharm El Sheikh Street was that were once present in the room. The chairs were copied If you are planning a trip to Alexandria, make sure that you include transformed into a hostel. The poets bedroom is a narrow rectangular room that from old photos and were donated by the Greek Patriarchate. this museum on your What to see in Alexandria list. displays a copper bed and a Moroccan vanity table that The only original pieces of the furniture in that room are an old 4 Sharm El Sheikh Street, off Istanbul Street, Alexandria In 1991, The Kavafi International Committee leased the carries the wooden clogs of the poets muse. The walls are gilt mirror and the macabre death mask of the poet. Tel.: +2 (010) 0375-6390 poets apartment and the Kavafi Museum was opened to decorated by a long line of portraits, old shots of the room The next room is a tribute to his longtime friend and student Open Daily from 10am 5pm, excluding Mondays the public in November 1992. Even though all of the poets of the house and an ink on paper depiction of Kavafi by the Stratis Tsirkas. Triskas was greatly influenced by Kavafi and Admission: LE 15 furniture was sold by the poets heirs, the apartment was musician Andreas Karrayan. wrote extensively about him. 8 June . 2012 June . 2012 9

Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority News letter Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority News letter CalendAr 14th Main Hall, Cairo Opera House. Photography by Mauro LAbate Music from Palestine Tel: (02) 2739 0132 Toot Ard Band Time: 8 pm El Geneina Theater, Azhar Park, Salah Salem Rd. June 2012 Tel: (02) 2362 5057 22nd Time: 8.30 pm Music from Egypt Dust at Townhouse Gallery Wust El Balad Band 14th & 15th El Geneina Theater, Azhar Park, Salah Salem Rd. Sixth 100 Live Festival Tel: (02) 2362 5057 Electronic Music Festival Time: 8.30 pm Rawabet Theater, Hussein Meamar St. Downtown. Tel: (02) 2576 8086 24th Time: 7 pm Rhythmic Latin Jazz Eleanora Iannotta 15th Cairo Jazz Club, 197, 26th July St. Agouza Music from Egypt Tel: (02) 3346 1071 Masar Egbary Band Time: 10 pm El Geneina Theater, Azhar Park, Salah Salem Rd. Tel: (02) 2362 5057 28th Time: 8.30 pm French Touch with Animal Stabisme (France) The Neo Punk duo will present House Music 16th (Berlin), Chaabi (Egyptian) and French Parisian Classic and Zouglou (Ivory Coast) the non-speaking role of the princess, and there Beethovens Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67 French Institute of Egypt,5 Chafik El Dib St. may also be additional ensemble dancers. and Rimsky-Korsakovs Scheherazade Sym- Heliopolis. Tel: (02) 2417 4824 Small Hall, Cairo Opera House phonic Suite, Op.35 Conductor: Ahmed El Saedi Time: 8 pm Time: 8 pm Main Hall, Cairo Opera House. Tel: (02) 2739 0132 Time: 8 pm Theater Ethnic 21st 3rd 9th Classic A Soldiers Tale Modern Folkloric Fete de la Musique Composed by Stravinsky, it is a 1918 theatri- Basheer Band Shostakovichs Festival Overture, Beethovens cal work to be read, played and danced. The Cairo Jazz Club, 197, 26th July St. Agouza Romance for Violin and Orchestra No.2 in F libretto, based on a Russian folk tale, was written Tel: (02) 3346 1071 Major, Op.50, Cooks Bolivar for Trombone and in French by the Swiss universalist writer Ramuz. Time: 10 pm Art Cairo Jazz Club, 197, 26th July St. Agouza Orchestra, Webers Overture to Oberon and It is about a soldier who trades his fiddle to the 20th Tel: (02) 3346 1071 Rodrigos Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and devil for a book that predicts the future of the 1st - 13th The Siege of Cairo Time: 10 pm orchestra. Soloists:Yasser Ghoneim (violin), economy. The story is told by three actors: the Special Events Dust by Xenia Nikolskaya Photographs by Mauro LAbate Mohamed Gamal (trombone), Emad Hamdi (Gui- soldier, the devil and a narrator, who also takes A Photographic exhibition, exploring Egypts Marshrabia Gallery, 8 Champollion St. Downtown. 9th tar). Conductor: Tarek Mahran on the roles of minor characters. A dancer plays 1st abandoned architectural heritage and a publica- Tel: (02) 2578 4494. Classic Festival of Ephemeral Arts tion of texts and images. Exhibition until July 7th Brahms Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Besides traditional, Austrian Schrammelmusik Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art major, Op.77, Bartoks Six Romanian Dances and Wust El Balad, Geneina Theater and Austrian culinary specialties, there will be 10 Nabrawy Street off Champollion Street, Enescus Romanian Rhapsody No.1 in A Major, lots of cultural activities like theater, water cal- Downtown - Cairo . Tel: (0 2) 2576 8086 Music Op.11. Soloist: Hossam Shehata. Conductor: ligraphy or saw-dust-art workshops for young Live Colors Egypt Jiri Peterdlik and old. In the shade of the trees there will be anLive Colors Egypt 3rd June - 3rd July 2nd Main Hall, Cairo Opera House. exhibition of the Austrian painter Gustav Klimt The Holy Family in Egypt Classic Tel: (02) 2739 0132 and Egyptian storytellers will narrate Austrian Exhibition by a selection of contemporary artists. Ravels Rapsode Espagnole, Debussys Dances Time: 8 pm fairy tales. Picasso Art Gallery, 30 Hassan Assem St. Zamalek. Sacree et Profane and Brahms Symphony No.3 Azhar Park,Salah Salem St. (off Brazil St.). Tel: (02) 2736 7544 in F Major, Op.90. Soloist: Amira Hamed (Harp). 14th Time: 4 - 9 pm Conductor: Ahmed El Saedi French Touch with Animal Stabisme (France) 18th Main Hall, Cairo Opera House. The Neo Punk duo will present House Music 14th Hassan Fathy - An Egyptian Ambition Tel: (02) 2739 0132 (Berlin), Chaabi (Egyptian) and French Parisian Mexican Night Architectural Drawings and photos of Hassan Time: 8 pm and Zouglou (Ivory Coast) Authentic Mexican specialties and freshly pre- Fathys dreams French Institute of Egypt, Madrasset El Huqquq El pared margaritas. French Institute of Egypt, 30 Nabi Daniel St. 3rd Ferensia, Mounira. Community Services Association, 4 Rd 21, Maadi Alexandria Tel: (03) 392 0804 Vocal Jazz Tel: (02) 2791 5871 Tel: (02) 2358 5284 Time: 7 pm Habashi & the Jazz Caterers Time: 9 pm Time: 5 pm 10 June . 2012 June . 2012 11