Book Review: Abdin Palace

The book contains a document signed by Khedive Ismail, according to which he ordered the construction of the Palace, and a manuscript with details of the King of Iran's visit to Egypt in 1939.There are also rare pictures of the royal family, from Khedive Ismail till King Farouk, as well as a guidebook in Arabic and English. Many of the photos depict renovation work at the Palace since its construction in 1863.Fathi Saleh, the director of the centre, notes that the registration of Abdin Palace comes in the wake of a national project to authenticate the presidential palaces in Egypt, in order to preserve Egypt's legacy and highlight the marvellous architecture and works of art in 19th century palaces. "Abdin Palace has made an immense contribution to the history of modern Egypt," says Saleh, adding that it has witnessed many important social and political events, while the overhaul it has received reflects the interest of the current political leadership."It has taken two years to complete the authentication," says Heba Barakat, the director of the project, adding that all the contents of the Palace, built in the French style, including antiques and furniture, have been registered. "Khedive Ismail ordered the construction of Abdin Palace on 25 feddans (acres), as part of a plan to turn Cairo into a European city," she notes, adding that the Palace consists of two floors. The upper floor included a room for men called the salamlek, while there was a haramlek for women. The bodyguard lived on the lower floor.