This little-known treasure is not only a museum but also a work of art. The palace, which Prince Mohammed Ali Tawfik designed and oversaw the construction of from 1899 to 1929, is on Manial island, which is in the center of Cairo. The prince clearly had a wide range of tastes in architecture, and he wanted the palace to be a work of art. The estate’s six buildings are built in a variety of styles, including European Art Nouveau, Rococo, Moorish, Ottoman, and Persian, to name just a few. The fact that each of the 35 ceilings is unique and worth craning your neck to see is one of the palace’s most impressive features. However, not only is the architecture noteworthy; The extensive and exotic gardens of the estate are also well-known.

The prince’s residence, the reception hall, the clock tower, the mosque, the throne room, the golden hall, the private museum, the sabil (or fountain), and a hunting museum were added later in 1963 to the estate’s six buildings.

One of the original components of the estate, the prince’s residence has a dining room, a fireplace room, several salons, and a plethora of other rooms that are exquisitely decorated and open to visitors for exploration. It is important to note that the prince had always wanted the palace to be seen as a monument rather than a home, which is part of the reason his estate has so many different styles and themes. This mix of styles can be seen in the Ottoman-style throne room, the Moroccan-influenced mosque with a rococo-style ceiling, and several halls with stained-glass windows that look like they were designed in Europe.
While the estate’s architecture and design are truly remarkable in their diversity, the displays, furniture, clothing, art, and medieval manuscripts that are housed within are equally impressive, making this museum a worthwhile Cairo visit.