A land laden with monuments of past, present, and future, Egypt has been for years a melting pot of different cultures. From the ancient Pharaohs, classic Ptolemies to Orthodox Christianity and the many Islamic kingdoms, the country has had a rich history, and this is the reason why, when walking the streets of Cairo, you can easily spot the remnants of these times juxtaposed with the spirit of the present. Yet, the innovation of the Egyptian people does not stop here, as we thrive to pay homage to our identity through our expansive, futuristic edifices.
Right now, all over Cairo, a number of new museums, palaces, and landmarks are set to open their doors to the public. Some were closed and now reopened, others are completely new, so here are the landmarks that are about to open to the public in 2020.
Grand Egyptian Museum
Just two kilometers from the Giza Plateau, Egypt is in a race with time to inaugurate the Grand Egyptian Museum. Once it opens its doors, the 5.2-million-square-foot structure is set to become the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization.
The immense pressure of the deadline is pushing some 5,000 workers to labor around the clock to finish by the end of the year. The museum, with its iconic glass-fronted facade, will house some of the country’s most valuable artifacts and offer an insurmountable view of the Pyramids of Giza.
“This will be the museum of the 21st century,” said its Director General, Tarek Tawfik.
El Sakakini Palace
Standing testimony to the breathtaking architecture of Khedivate Egypt, El Sakakini Pasha Palace located in Al-Daher, one of Cairo’s oldest neighborhoods, is an Egyptian masterpiece.
With sculptures of young women adorning its outer walls, asymmetrical designs, and graceful curves, El Sakakini Palace is heavily inspired by the French Rococo architectural movement.
The Ministry of Antiquities has been working for years on the restoration of this beautiful masterpiece, and it is expected that the palace will open to the public this year.
Baron Palace
Built between 1907 and 1911, the Palace of Baron Empain is the magnum opus of French Architect Alexandre Marcel. The building is like no other in Cairo, as unlike most buildings from that era it is not inspired by European architecture, but rather the Southeastern elements from Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple in Cambodia.
Currently, this piece of Egyptian history is under renovation, however, the Ministry of Antiquities has recently released ticket prices to the public indicating that we could be able to visit the palace in the near future.
Egyptian Royal Vehicle Museum
A new museum is about to open doors in Zamalek, and unlike most museums, the Royal Vehicle Museum has something unconventional to offer.
The project’s development has been ongoing for some time now, and now that the electro-mechanic refurbishing is almost complete, the head of the project from Egypt’s antiquities ministry, Waed Abul Ela, announced that the museum is set to open its doors to the public in September of this year.
Located in the heart of Zamalek’s 26th of July Street, the museum does not include any Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, or Arab relics; only antique cars. The building from the outside is ornated with Islamic geometric patterns and horse head embroidery.