Overlooking the beautiful Royal Mediterranean Bay, and Montazah beach, the Al-Haramlik Palace, also known as the Al Montazah Palace, was a 1932 addition to the existing Salamlek Palace. King Fuad constructed the much larger Al-Haramlik castle and used it as a summer home. The castle is surrounded by elaborate gardens, which cover an area of approximately 350 acres. The gardens incorporate a children's park, a museum, and a tourist center. The castle itself is a presidential residence, and is closed to the public, but the gardens and the surrounding attractions are open for a fee of $6 and Montazah beach for $15, as of 2010.
El Montazah Palace Gardens
El Montaza
Alexandria, Egypt 21599
+011-20-3-5477999
The Salamlek Palace was built in 1892 as a summer residence for the last ruler of Egypt and Sudan, Khedive Abbas II. The residence later became a hunting lodge for the Khedive's guests and mistress, the Countess May-Torok von Szendro, whom he later married. During the reign of King Farouk, the smaller castle became a guesthouse and summer office. The castle is located in Alexandria within the Salamlek complex. The complex sits within fortified walls and encloses the Al-Haramlik Palace, a small park, the Montazah gardens, and a series of tourist buildings. Today the castle is the El Salamlek Palace Hotel and Casino, which features 14 individualized suites starting at $120, and six guest rooms starting at $80 per night as of 2010.
El Salamlek Palace Hotel and Casino
El Montazah Palace Gardens
Alexandria, Egypt 21599
+011-20-12-7739149
sangiovanni.com
The Qaitbay Castle, also known as Qaitbay Citadel, is said to be one of the most important landmarks in all of Alexandria. It is located on Pharos Island on the exact site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Lighthouse of Alexandria. The Mameluke Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay built the Castle and Mosque around 1480 AD, as a defensive stronghold, during the city's extensive fortification against the Turks. The Egyptian Supreme Counsel of Antiquities considers the Mosque the oldest in Alexandria. The British invasion in 1882 left the castle in ruins until 1904, when the Ministry of Defense did some minor repairs. In 1952 the Egyptian Navy turned the castle into a maritime museum, but it was still in disrepair. It was not until 1984 that the Egyptian Supreme Counsel of Antiquities started restorations on the neglected ruins, and subsequently converted it into the Aquarium and Marine Life Museum. The museum is open daily from 9am to 2pm and 2010
admission is $9.
Aquarium and Marine Life Museum
Fort Qait Bey, El Anfoushi
Alexandria, Egypt 21599
+011-20-3-4801499
egypttravelsearch.com
