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Barsoum Palace: What Community Action Did to Save a Cairo Treasure

March 16, 2021
A shot of Barsoum Palace. (Photo courtesy of Omneya El-Naggar.)

Tucked away in one of Cairo’s old suburbs, Barsoum Palace is one of the architectural and historical gems of modern Cairo. But as plans were made to build the mighty Ferdous Axis, serving as a link between Eastern and Southern Cairo, the palace’s longevity was suddenly under threat. To Sherif Hanna, the grandson of the palace’s original owner, Barsoum Pacha Hanna, it is a family home he shares with the owner’s other children and grandchildren. He was surprised to hear that it would be demolished to make way for the ramp that led off the new road. While telling Egyptian Streets the story, he spoke of the value of the palace as a home as well as an architectural marvel. Barsoum Palace was built in 1865 during the reign of Khedive Said. With its domes, murals, painted ceilings, and stained glass, its uniqueness is undeniable. Its thick walls of stone, rather than concrete, and its high ceilings, instantly takes visitors back in time. But while the palace is a one-of-a-kind and precious architectural feat, the significance of the palace is not only in its design. The owner of the Palace…


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