Antoniades Palace, its beautiful gardens yearn
Egypt, Local, 3/8/2002

Antoniades Palace or the Magic Palace as Alexandrians prefer to call it has become an enigma. Strangely, its vast gardens have been separated from the palace itself. While the palace is affiliated to Alexandria Governorate while the gardens fall under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The palace established in l860 by Sir John Antoniades witnessed a vivid chapter of political and social events. The palace witnessed many balls and occasions attended by Khedive Ismail, Khedive Abbas Hilmi II and King Fuad who was so much interested in the palace. He allocated three days of the week to stay at the palace in order to hunt pigeons in the pinewood in the west southern part of the gardens on Al Mahmudia canal.

He also opened the palace three days a week for the public.The palace has also witnessed the signing ceremony of the l936 treaty for the evacuation of the British forces from Cairo. A palm tree was planted in commemoration of the signing ceremony which stands till date in the gardens.The former princess Fawzia has also honeymooned in the palace upon her marriage from Shah Iran. Despite the rich history of the palace, it was completely neglected and the vast gardens, considered of the most beautiful world wide is yearning for a soothing hand.There are actually many suggestions to make use of the palace.

It could be turned into a museum or a cultural centre since it is high time that rust should be removed from the palace especially that the outer gates speak of the deteriorating state the palace has now reached.

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