129 Returned to the People: The Transformation of Egyptian Royal Palaces into Museums Hanan Ismail Abstract The palaces of Muḥammad ʿAlī’s dynasty cost a fortune to build and maintain. After the 1952 Revolution, most of these palaces were confiscated and became the property of the Egyptian government. Some of them were turned into historical museums. Once opened, the palace museums attracted many visitors. This paper examines how three of these palaces - ‘Abdīn Palace; Farouq Rest House and Manyal Palace - functioned as museums in post-revolutionary Egypt, and how heritage functioned in the process of building the modern Egyptian nation state in the 20th century. These three palaces were opened as historical museums because of their historical, architectural and artistic values. The important symbolic functions of the palaces are reflected in the involvement of the highest politicians in the opening ceremonies. Nowadays, even though the studied palaces are not currently common on the tourist itinerary, they are still part of the cultural program of Egyptian school classes. Keywords ‘Abdīn Palace – Farouq Rest House – Manyal Palace – historical museums – palaces of Muḥammad ʿAlī’ dynasty Introduction While Egypt is most famous for its pharaonic remains, it was also enriched by spectacular palaces built during the reign of Muḥammad ʿAlī’ dynasty (1805-1952). These palaces cost a fortune to build and maintain. After the 1952 revolution, all the palaces of the king and most of the palaces of the royal family were confiscated and became the property of the government. Some of these palaces were turned into historical museums presenting Egyptian élite life as it had been lived inside. These museum palaces play an important role in preserving the national identity of Egypt and represent a vital part of its heritage. Royal Palaces and the Formation of Post-Revolution Egyptian Identity Between 1858 and 1908 imperialism and archaeology in Egypt were closely linked. Europeans were the founders of the Egyptian Antiquities Service and the four museums.1 These museums remained largely European-dominated until the 1950s, when the Egyptians realized the vital role of archaeology in shaping their national identity. Nationalists challenged both the European control of Egypt’s archaeological institutions and Western imperialist’s interpretations.2 In fact, museums were important arenas in the struggle for national independence.3 Museums are human society’s equivalent of cultural memory banks. Only museums uniquely collect, preserve, research, and publicly display objects as an essential function of their existence. They help in the shaping of the cultural values.4 The new regime after the outbreak of July revolution in 1952 tried to recast the local history as the history of an Egyptian nation.5 1 The Egyptian Museum (Cairo, 1906), Graeco-Roman Museum (Alexandria, 1892), Coptic Museum (Cairo, 1908) and Islamic Art Museum (Cairo, 1903). 2 Donald Malcolm Reid, Whose Pharaohs? Archaeology, Museums, and Egyptian National Identity from Napoleon to World War I (London: University of California Press, 2002), 1-7. 3 Reid, Whose Pharaohs?, 10, 118-119, 205. 4 David Dean, Museum Exhibition Theory and Practice (London: Routledge, 1998), 1- 2,7. 5 Timothy Mitchell, Rule of Experts Egypt, Techno-Politics, Modernity (California: University of California, 2002), 13. Returned to the People: The Transformation of Egyptian Royal Palaces into Museums 130 Actually, the revolution marked an important episode in the history of Egypt as it announced the arrival of a completely new era. The royal palaces were an essential link in the chain of Egypt’s history as representatives of the most recent Egyptian kingdom. Their appropriation also functioned as powerful symbols of the new era that had started. Next to the already existing museums, the palaces represented the last phase of Egypt’s history. The important symbolic function of the palaces is reflected in the involvement of the highest politicians in the opening ceremonies. The first Egyptian president, Muḥammad Naguib (1952 - 1954) visited these royal palaces accompanied by army officers and his visit was recorded by journalists.6 From Palaces to Museums The new regime considered the royal palaces symbols of the ancient regime that was replaced. These palaces contained valuable artistic objects. To have a better idea of the palaces under discussion, here is a short description of them, their history and the most important artifacts that they contain in addition to their historical and cultural value. Three Palaces Most of the royal and elite palaces have been neglected or converted for use by public administration offices7 since their appropriation by the state, but the three palaces studied here were opened as historical museums because of their architectural and artistic value. They are of different types: one is a royal palace, ‘Abdīn Palace, the second is a king’s rest house, Farouq Rest House at Helwan, and the third is a crown-prince’s palace, Manyal Palace. These palaces form an important part of the Egyptian national heritage. Since museums are considered the most comprehensive and most appropriate institution for ensuring the safekeeping of ethnological heritage8, their management is not limited to transmitting and receiving them. As a heritage, they should be preserved and, even more importantly, enriched.9 -‘Abdīn Palace ‘Abdīn Palace10 symbolizes the beginning of modern Cairo, as it was built to give Cairo a European style layout.11 It is considered the most beautiful of the palaces of the dynasty of Muḥammad ʿAlī.12 It is the only one of the 30 lavish palaces that Ismail built during his reign that he kept for himself.13 It was also his favorite place for winter receptions because its location was close to the large hotels at Azbakiyya.14 Although the palace is the smallest in size, it became the most important one from a political perspective.15 It is connected with several important historical events, such as the ʿUrābī revolution16, the 1919 revolution, the 6 “Mʿ al-raʾīs Muḥammad Nagib fī Qaṣr Raʾs al-Tīn”, Al-Muṣwir, Sep. 26, 1952 http://modernegypt.bibalex.org/DocumentViewer/TextViewer. aspx?w=1258&h=598&type=press&id=3248&s=1, accessed on December 3, 2012, 1:40 am. 7 It is also worth mentioning here that archaeologists nowadays are against using these marvelous buildings for administration offices of the presidency or any kind of activity of daily life that may affect the building. They support the idea of opening them to the public as museums because of their historical and artistic value. (Tawfīq, ‹Kunwz ʾtharīa w miʻmārīa’, 3.) 8 Alpha Oumar Konaré, ‹Museums and Ethnological Heritage›, (paper presented in Proceedings of the 12th General Conference and 13th General Assembly of the International Council of Museums, Mexico City, October 25- November 4, 1980), 65-67. 9 Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, ‹The Future of Heritage and the Heritage of the Future›, (paper presented in Proceedings of the 12th General Conference and 13th General Assembly of the International Council of Museums, Mexico City, October 25- November 4, 1980), 48-54. 10 The palace is also known under many other names: «Jawhart al-Quṣwr» the jewel of palaces, «al-Jana al-Mafqwda» the lost paradise, and «Manārat al- Quṣwr al-Malakya» the beacon of the royal palaces. 11 ‹Abdine Palace Museums. 12 Tawfīq, ‹Kunwz ʾtharīa w miʻmārīa›, 3. 13 Rāfiʻī , ʻAṣr Ismāʻīl, vol. II, 55. ; Maḥmūd ʿabās Āḥmad ʿAbd el-Raḥman, Al-Quṣūr al-Malakia fī Miṣr Tārīkh w Ḥaḍara (1805-1952) (Cairo: Al-Dār Al- ʿālamīa lil Nashr w al-Tawziʿ, 2005), 83. 14 Edwin De Leon, The Khedives’s Egypt (London: Sampson Low, 1877), 174-175. 15 Mahmoud El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces in Egypt From Mohamed Aly to Farouk (Cairo: Dar Al-Maaref, 1954), 16. 16 For further reading about ʿUrābī and ‘Abdīn palace see: Mary Rowlatt, Founders of Modern Egypt (London: Asia Publishing House, 1962), 53-58, 145- 156. Hanan Ismail 131 events of 4th of February 1942 and the 1952 revolution.17 It took its name from ‘Abdīn Bey18, its original owner.19 Its construction in 1863 cost over half a million pounds20, in addition to the furniture which was estimated at 2 million pounds.21 The royal court moved from the citadel to ‘Abdīn in 1874.22 Since this date, the palace became the official dwelling of all the subsequent rulers of Egypt.23 Later, it became called the Republican ‘Abdīn Palace, the state headquarters of the president of the Arab Republic of Egypt.24 All the successors of Ismail added certain elements to the palace.25 Nāṣir used it as an official residence, while Sādāt used part of the palace only.26 On 22 January 1972, it became the presidential palace. All presidential councilors’ offices, secretaries, trustees and honors records were transferred to ‘Abdīn Palace.27 The Italian architect De Curel Del Rosso was assigned to design the palace.28 A large number of Egyptians, Italians, French and Turkish were employed in its construction.29 The palace consists of two floors. The main entrance is located in the northern façade.30 The architectural style of the palace follows the Neo-French-Renaissance Style.31 The interior decorations combine diverse styles.32 In contrast, the corridors between the rooms are kept plain.33 Many of the rooms were reserved for members of the royal family such as the Queen’s mother, or for other privileged members of the household, such as the English tailor “Mr. Laurence”. Some of the spaces stand out through their decoration or function. The Suez Canal Salon, where the celebration of the inauguration of the Suez Canal took place, is an example. On the same floor, there is the billiards room, which was presented by Empress Eugénie to khedive Ismail, as well as the small dining room and the king’s study.34 The palace contains also a theater, which is considered to be more splendid than the Khedival Opera House.35 The palace library,36 constructed by Khedive Ismail, contains a valuable book collection. It was accessible only to a privileged minority. There is also another separate building in the ‘Abdīn palace for keeping the historical documents (archives) of particular interest to the royal family.37 It also had a dental and a medical clinic, a delivery room and a pharmacy.38 It is also one of the richest in the world regarding the number of clocks scattered in the lobbies and suites. Some remarkable objects include the green telephone apparatus in the King’s quarters which connected the king with the members of his cabinet through a special internal network.39 The palace also housed governmental and private ironing firms, an engineering workshop and a 17 In Septmber 9, 1881, ʿUrābī delivered the demands of the Egyptian people and the army to Khedive Tawfīq in front of ‘Abdīn palace. Then, when the British in March 1919 arrested Zaghlul and two other movement leaders and exiled them to Malta, the Egyptian people gathered in ‘Abdīn square asking to release the Egyptian leaders. Later, on February 4, 1942, the British ambassador insisted on the appointment of Muṣṭafa al-Naḥas as prime minister or the abdication of king Farouq and tanks advance towards‘Abdīn palace. Then, in 1952, the revolution, put an end for monarchy in Egypt and established the republic. The palace also witnessed March crisis between Nāṣir and Muḥammad Nagib in 1954. 18 ‘Abdīn Bey was one of the Turkish officers. 19 Tawfīq, ‹Kunwz ʾtharīa w miʻmārīa›, 3. 20ʿAlī Bāšā Mubārak, al-Ḵiṭaṭ al-Tawfīqiyya al-ǧadīda li-Miṣr al-Qāhira wa-mudunuhā wa-bilāduhā al-qadīma wa-alshahīra, vol. I. Tārīkh al-Qāhira wa Miṣr munzu al-ʿasr al- Fāṭimī ḥata ʿasr Tawfīq. 2nd. ed. (Cairo: al-Haīʼa al-Maṣrīa al-ʿāma lil Kitāb, 1994), 213. 21 Ryāḍ Tawfīq, ‹Kunwz ʾtharīa w miʻmārīa ʾabdaʻtha ʾusrat Muḥammad ʿAly Bāsha .. al-Baḥth ʻn Qaṣr lil Riʾasa›, Al-Ahram 45742, March 2, 2012,3. 22 Tawfīq, ‹Kunwz ʾtharīa w miʻmārīa›, 3. 23 Emine Foat Tugay, Three Centuries Family Chronicles of Turke and Egypt (London: Oxford University Press, amen House, 1963), 130. 24 Tawfīq, ‘Kunwz ʾtharīa w miʻmārīa’, 3. 25 http://www.abdeenmus.gov.eg/abdeen_museums.asp, 26 Feb. 2012, 1:58 pm 26 Tawfīq, ‘Kunwz ʾtharīa w miʻmārīa’, 3. 27 “Qaṣr ‘Abdīn lil rīāsa w qaṣr al-qubba lil ḍīāfa”, Al-Ahram 31085, Jan. 19, 1972. 28 Nihal S. Tamarz, Nineteenth-Century Cairene Houses and Palaces (Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, 1998), 32. 29 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 15. 30 http://modernegypt.bibalex.org/TxtViewer/TextViewer.aspx?ID=299&type=Article, July16, 2012, 2:38 am. 31 Tamarz, Cairene Houses and Palaces, 32; Najm, Quṣūr al-umarāʼ wa-al-bāshawāt, vol. II, 57-61. 32 The throne room was in generic Islamic style; the Suez Canal Salon in Classical European Style and the Byzantine Hall is clearly Byzantine with its figures and myths drawn on the wall. 33 Tamarz, Cairene Houses and Palaces, 32. 34 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 19-20. 35 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 20-22. 36 Later called «the Royal Cabinet Library». 37 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 48-52. 38 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 34-38 39 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 22-23, 26-28. Returned to the People: The Transformation of Egyptian Royal Palaces into Museums 132 studio for photography.40 King Fwʾād dedicated some of the halls of the palace to be used as museums of family weapons and medals.41 King Farouq completed the museum and added different kinds of weapons42, and an annexed library specialized in this field.43 In 1936, the contents of the military museum were registered in printed books. Another museum, a silver work museum, which exhibits all the necessaries for festivals, is the most interesting on the ground floor. A workshop is annexed to the museum for mending these silver objects and testing gold by an old goldsmith, who did that work without payment. The third museum is the private military weapons museum; it holds a group of monumental guns which were used in certain battles such as Abu Qir and Alexandria, in addition to some weapons that were used in the Western Desert battles during World War II.44 During the reign of King Fwʾād and Farouq, the museums of the palace were open only to the royal family.45 In 1953 the ḥaramlyk of the palace46 was turned into a museum and opened to visitors.47 The administration of the museum of ‘Abdīn was transferred to the museums administration in the Citadel. Then, it returned to the presidency under Sādāt, who ordered the renovation and restoration of the palace and the museum.48 Under the presidency of Mubārk, the palace was restored using the most up-to-date architectural methods. Part of the palace has been turned into a complex of museums for the exhibition of rare collections of weapons and artifacts. The Military Museum has been rearranged and the exhibition of the objects modernized. A hall displaying the various weapons presented to Mubārk has been added as well. Two additional specialized museums have been created. One of them displays the gifts received by Mubārk on various national occasions or during his worldwide tours. The other one is for Muḥammad ʿAlī’s possessions of silver utensils and vessels, crystals, and colored glass, as well as other unique artifacts.49 The complex was given the new name of the Museums of ‘Abdīn Palace. Mubārk reopened it on October 17, 1998. Then on December 16, 2004, the Museum of Historical Documents was added to the museums of the palace.50 The palace now contains: the military museum of ‘Abdīn palace, the museum of silverware, the museum of historical documents and the museum of medals and decorations.51 This is in addition to the Royal Hunting Hall and the Presidency Gifts Museum. Now two printed catalogues of the museum “’Abdine Palace Museums” and “A Selection of the Displayed Collection at the Crystal, Chinaware and Gallé Museum” and one pamphlet “Selections of Abdeen Palace Museums” are available. - Farouq Rest House The rest house of King Farouq, known as Helwan Corner or Farouq Corner, lies on the road from Cairo to Helwan, some six kilometers from Helwan, overlooking the Nile. It was constructed on a piece of land belonging to the royal endowments (waqfs) and covers 11,600 m2.52 The palace was erected on an area of 440 m2, while the garden, which was planted with rare plants and enclosed with a stone wall, occupied the rest of the area.53 The rest house of King Farouq in Helwan was bought with the money of the royal endowments (waqfs) in 1939 at the price of L.E. 2.000 and was furnished with antiques with an estimated value of L.E. 28.000.54 The house has a modern three-floor design. The ground floor contains servants’ rooms, the kitchen, service sets, warehouses, lavatories and a terrace. It is directly 40 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 22-23, 26-28, 47. 41 Tawfīq, ‘Kunwz ʾtharīa w miʻmārīa’, 3. 42 For further reading about the holdings of the museums see the catalogues: ‘Abdine Palace Museums and A Selection of the Displayed Collection at the Crystal, Chinaware and Gallé Museum. 43 http://www.abdeenmus.gov.eg/abdeen_museums.asp, Feb. 26, 2012, 1:58 pm 44 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 41-42, 54-57. 45 “Qwāt al-jaīsh tuḥaṣir al-quṣwr al-malakīa fī Raʾs al-Tīn w al- Muntazah w ‘Abdīn w al-qubba”, Al-Ahram 23999, July 27, 1952, 4. 46 The part that was open to the public included the reception wing, with its waiting rooms, a banquet hall, a salon for princesses and a salon for princes. In addition to this wing, there are also the Ismail Salon, the portrait gallery and the Red Hall. Moreover, the King’s Wing, the Queen’s Wing, the Queen Mother’s Wing, the Princesses’ Wing, The Belgian (Guest) Wing and the Byzantine Hall are as well open to the public. 47 “Abdin Palace Museum”, Egypt Travel Magazine 90, February, 1962, 38-39. 48 http://www.abdeenmus.gov.eg/abdeen_museums.asp, Feb. 26, 2012, 1:58 pm 49 ‘Abdine Palace Museums. 50 http://www.abdeenmus.gov.eg/abdeen_museums.asp, Feb. 26, 2012, 1:58 pm 51 Selections of Abdeen Palace Museums, 6, 28, 42, 58. 52 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 119. 53 http://www.faroukmisr.net/report103.htm, August 3, 2012, 00:05 am. 54 Mahmoud El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces in Egypt From Mohamed Aly to Farouk (Cairo: Dar Al-Maaref, 1954), 119, 34-37. Hanan Ismail 133 connected to the first floor.55 The first floor is the main one. A marble staircase leads to the outer lobby, which leads to the inner one, beyond which are two dining rooms and smoking areas overlooking the Nile.56 Also on this floor are the entrance hall, the grand saloon, bedrooms with annexes and a marble staircase leading to the roof. There is also a veranda with a pergola overlooking the Nile. In the dining room stands a pure crystal table, and glass cabinets containing a large collection of silver and Chinese vessels and vases. There are two bedrooms, each of which has a complete bathroom, a hall and a toilet and opens onto a marble-floored veranda.57 The second floor is the roof, reached by a marble staircase and used by the king for private evenings.58 The furniture is a selection taken from other palaces. It contains many antiques that were presented to the king on various occasions, with a value estimated at approximately L.E. 28,000.59 Although Farouq furnished it as befits kings and rulers, he visited it only twice during his reign.60 After the 1952 revolution, it continued to function as a rest house and was regarded as the property of the people.61 During the 1960s, the rest house was open to the public for P.T. 4, and its garden was open free.62 In 1976, it was placed under the supervision of the museums sector in the Supreme Council of Antiquities and designated as a monument.63 On July 13, 2009, the museum was open after restoration work which cost 1.5 million pounds and lasted for 6 months. All elements of the museum, including the main building, the garden, the stone corridors and the private laboratory, were renovated. This opening ceremony coincided with the Egyptian celebrations of International Museum Day.64 Like most Egyptian museums, the rest house has been closed for security reasons after the revolution of January 25, 2011. Thus, after being closed for 23 years for restoration, it was open for only a year, which was not enough to make people aware of the museum or to publish catalogues of its contents.65 Then on August 2, 2016 the museum was reopened by the Minister of Antiquities and Minister of Tourism. The Minister of Antiquities announced then that the rest house will be included in Hapi Nile cruise with the Egyptian Museum, Manyal Palace and Palace of Manasterly.66 - Manyal Palace Manyal palace is unique among the princes’ palaces of the dynasty of Muḥammad ʿAlī. Prince Muḥammad ʿAlī designed the plans and decorations of the palace and supervised the construction. It is located on the north of Ālrawḍa Island, facing the Cairo University Faculty of Medicine. It was built in 1901. The complex occupies an area of 61,711 m2, of which 5000 m2 is buildings, while the rest is the garden.67 The buildings manifest a unique style composed of Persian, Syrian, Moorish, Ottoman and rococo elements. Its fabulously eclectic architecture reflects its owner’s taste.68 The complex consists of an enclosure wall69, entrance, reception sarāyā 55 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 119- 120. 56 http://www.faroukmisr.net/report103.htm, August 3, 2012, 00:05 am. 57 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 119-120. 58 http://www.faroukmisr.net/report103.htm, August 3, 2012, 00:05 am. 59 El-Gawhary, Ex-Royal Palaces, 119. 60 http://www.faroukmisr.net/report103.htm, August 3, 2012, 00:05 am. 61 http://www.faroukmisr.net/report103.htm, August 3, 2012, 00:05 am. 62 Egypt Travel Magazine 70, June 1960, 3. 63 http://www.faroukmisr.net/report103.htm, August 3, 2012, 00:05 am. 64 “Aiftitaḥ rukn al-malik Farouq biḥilwān”, published in Ākhbar miṣr July 13, 2009 http://www.masress.com/egynews/71987, December 3, 2012, 3:03 am. 65 Phone call to the deputy of the museum of Farouq rest house, Azaa Muhammed Badawy, Dec. 4, 2012, 12:00 pm. 66 Heba Adil, Bialṣwar .. Iftitāḥ matḥaf rukn Farouq fi Ḥilwan baʿd 5 ʾāʿwām min Iġlāqih, Al Ahram Al Arabi, 2-8-2016, 13:11. http://arabi.ahram.org. eg/News/88708.aspx accessed on 24 March 2018, 2:53 pm. 67 ʻĀṭif Ghunaym, Qaṣr al-Amīr Muḥammad ʻAlī (Cairo: Wizārat al-Thaqāfah, al-Majlis al-ʾaʻla lil ʾathār), 9-10. 68 Dan Richardson, Egypt. The Rough Guide (London: Cox & Wyman, 1996), 155. 69 The enclosure wall is in medieval style, built of limestone coated with rectangular sandstone pieces. The northern side of the enclosure is lined with guarding balconies. Parts of this enclosure are inscribed with Quranic verses in raised Kufic script. Returned to the People: The Transformation of Egyptian Royal Palaces into Museums 134 (salāmlyk)70, clock tower, Sabil, mosque, hunting museum71, residence sarāyā72, throne sarāyā, private museum73, golden hall, mosque74 and a rare garden that surrounds the palace. The façade in general resembles the 4th century Iranian mosques and schools. Many Islamic styles are incorporated in the design of the main entrance of the palace.75 The palace furnishings and prince’s collections were given to the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities in 1955,76 after the death of the owner in 1954.77 During the 1960s, the complex was open to the public.78 A change of time Once opened, the palace museums attracted a lot of visitors and researchers. The visitors had different motivations to visit and study. Curiosity about the life of the royals, so recently fallen from power, was one reason. Admiration of the design, decorations, furniture, and antiques and the royal family’s ambition of incorporating Egypt into European modernity and the globalized worldview that lay behind the bringing together of these items was another. The palaces were also monuments and symbols of the fall of the dictator. Another reason for many visitors to investigate the deserted homes was anger and resentment against the royal family’s choice of how to spend the country’s money. This concerned the royal family’s position and their expenditure of Egypt’s money on the embellishment of their palaces and their own well-being, instead of using this money for projects in education or providing work opportunities that would have benefited the Egyptian population directly.79 The monthly Egyptian Travel Magazine from 1959 to 1963 added these three palaces to its list of museums to be visited in Egypt, with details about opening hours and ticket prices. In addition, photos from the interior of these palaces (especially Manyal Palace) were published in its first paper.80 In 1961 at Manyal Palace, Tourist administration officials welcomed tourists and distributed free pamphlets to them. Visitors greatly enjoyed the palace at that time.81 The Golden Hall of the Manyal Palace was also chosen for an international exhibition of tourist posters that was held on September 1960.82 The palaces are not now commonly on the tourist itinerary, but they are still part of the cultural program of Egyptian school classes. During the end of the 1990s and the 2000s, great attention was paid in Egypt to monument conservation, and simultaneously there was a widespread growth in awareness among Egyptians of the importance of preserving their heritage for future generations.83 The Egyptian Culture Ministry paid great attention to the restoration of these former royal palaces. In 2008, the ministry conducted a project to develop 45 museums, 10 of which were historical museums in different towns in Egypt.84 The Egyptian government renovated these museums because most visitors of museums are looking for positive, meaningful 70 The salāmlyk is located over the entrance just inside the gateway and was reserved for the official guests. It consists of two floors linked by a wooden staircase. The first floor contains two rooms: one for the presentation of honors and the other for prayer. (http://www.faroukmisr.net/manial_palace.htm, August 3, 2012, 5:49 am., Shirley Johnston and Sherif Sonbol, Egyptian Palaces and Villas. Pashas, Khedives, and Kings (New York: Abrams, 2006), 119.) The second floor contains the Moroccan Hall and the Syrian Room, which was relocated piece by piece from Damascus. (Richardson, Rough Guide,155.) 71 Locates in a corridor adjacent to the northern enclosure overlooking the garden. The museum collects deer skulls and horns, a mummified reptile, butterflies, stuffed fowl, ibex heads and a vulture’s claw candlestick. (http://www.faroukmisr.net/manial_palace.htm, August 3, 2012, 5:49 am) 72 The prince’s residence is richly decorated in a mixture of Turkish and Occidental styles. (Richardson, Rough Guide, 155.) 73 A private museum locates on the southern side of the palace displays rare manuscripts, Qur’anic commentaries, wonderful inscribed plates, writing equipment, weapons, the rarest carpets of various styles, cups, vases, models of Turkish fashion for all classes, a collection of female belts, private belongings of the prince inlaid with diamonds, a range of gifts received by kings, a group of marble lion heads, metal pieces, and coffee and tea sets made of porcelain, all colored with floral decorations. (http://www.faroukmisr.net/manial_palace.htm, August 3, 2012, 5:49 am.) 74 In the center of this complex stands the mosque. Despite its small size, it is regarded as an unparalleled architectural and decorative masterpiece. The mosque is now open for Friday and feast day prayers. (ʿAbd el-Raḥman, Al-Quṣūr al-Malakia fī Miṣr, 153. ) 75 http://www.faroukmisr.net/manial_palace.htm, August 3, 2012, 5:49 am. 76 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manial_Palace_and_Museum, 27 July 2012, 5:08 am. 77 Ghunaym, Qaṣr al-Amīr Muḥammad ʻAlī, 9. 78 Egypt Travel Magazine 70 , June 1960, 3. 79 El-Gawhary, ‘Thawrat al-Taḥrīr’, 73-76. 80 Egypt Travel Magazine 67, March 1960. 81 «Tourist’ Comments”, Egypt Travel Magazine 80, April 1961, 46. 82 «International Exhibition of Tourist Posters», Egypt Travel Magazine 75, November 1960, 19. 83 Team work from the complex of Abdeen palace Museums, A Selection of the Displayed Collection at the Crystal, Chinaware and Gallé Museum, 10. 84 «Wizārat al-Thaqāfah tastakmil taṭwīr 45 mutḥafa”, published in Ākhbar miṣr May 11, 2008 http://www.masress.com/egynews/39479, December 3, 2012, 2:30 am. Hanan Ismail 135 experience in museums. If they failed to find that sort of atmosphere, they may not be back.85 The former Egyptian King Aḥmad Fwʾād was pleased that the Egyptian government conducted such a project to restore the palaces of his dynasty and open them as museums.86 Guide books for Egypt, such as the Blue Guide, Lonely Planet and the Rough Guide give careful attention to these palaces. The Lonely Planet guide for Egypt describes in detail how to reach ‘Abdīn Palace and Manyal Palace, which can be helpful to foreigners without tourist guides. In addition, it provides phone numbers and abstracts about the palaces. But the rest house of Farouq is not mentioned, as it was not open to the public in 2002.87 The Rough Guide also mentions ‘Abdīn palace and gives more detailed description of the Manyal Palace, its building, opening hours and the price of tickets. Again, Farouq rest house is not mentioned, as it was not open to the public in 1996.88 As for the Blue Guide, it gives abstracts about ‘Abdīn palace and Manyal Palace and the opening hours. As well as the two former guides, it does not mention Farouq rest house, as it was only opened to public in 2009.89 Museums in the palaces under study can attract three groups of visitors. The first group are casual visitors, who move through a gallery quickly and display exit-oriented behaviour. Those can enjoy the gardens of the palaces much more than the interior and the displayed pieces.90 Those could be school students or people in vacation. The second group are genuinely interested in the museum experience and the collections. However, they ordinarily do not spend much time reading, especially texts that appear difficult or require too much effort to understand. These visitors prefer a casual, headline approach to information display.91 This group could be university students specialized in art, tourism or architecture. Adults interested in art and architectures can fall also under this group. The third group, who are the minority, will examine exhibitions with much more attention. These people spend a long time in the galleries, read the text and labels, and examine the objects closely.92 This one is more for researchers and scientific people who really care about information. Palace museums under study can attract more visitors if they received more propaganda via different media and social media means. Organizing important events in those places can also help to promote visiting them. Communication and cooperation are also needed between those responsible in these museums and those responsible for the preparation of tourism programs to highlight the historical significance of these museums. Scientific materials suitable to their artistic and historical value should be provided to function as appropriate tourist propaganda. Conclusion After the 1952 revolution, the new regime made use of the royal palaces. The most magnificent ones were opened as historical museums representing the last phase of the Egyptian heritage before the outbreak of the revolution. The value of these palaces relates to its artistic and architectural value in addition to the political importance that they gained during the reign of the royal dynasty. Preserving these attractions is preserving an essential part of the Egyptian identity. Immediately after opening, they attracted visitors for different reasons. Then they became a tourist attraction. With the passage of time they lost their position in tourist programs. This could be due to the focusing of the media on the Egyptian Pharaonic civilization and neglecting the modern attractions, which did not receive enough care and propaganda. These palaces recently gained more attention from both the Ministry of Antiquities and Ministry of Tourism in addition to the efforts of the administration in these museums. They organize events in the halls of the museums commemorating the memory of the royal family and announce via social media to widely spread awareness of their activities. 85 Dean, Museum Exhibition, 25. 86 «Malik Miṣr al-sabiq Aḥmad Fouad saʿīd bitarmī quṣwr āusratuh», published in Al-Shirwq Al-Jadīd April 27, 2010. http://www.masress.com/shorouk/218788, December 3, 2012, 2:47am. 87 Andrew Humphreys and Siona Jenkis, Egypt. Walk in the Shadows of the Pharaohs (Victoria: Lonely Planet, 2002), 170, 176 88 Richardson, Rough Guide, 98, 155. 89 Veronica Seton-Williams and Peter Stocks, Blue Guide Egypt. Atlas, Street atlas of Cairo, maps, plans, and illustrations (London: A & C Black, 1988), 210, 214 90 Dean, Museum Exhibition, 25-26. 91 Dean, Museum Exhibition, 25-26. 92 Dean, Museum Exhibition, 25-26. 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