El Sakakini Palace: Architectural Beauty that Speaks for Itself

Right in the heart of El Daher, Downtown, resides an architectural gem evoking beauty and art around every corner. El Sakakini palace is a marvelous piece of art dating back to 1897 designed in Rococo, a style of baroque architecture that originated in France in the 18th century. The style which is distinguished with ornamentation, decorative art, paintings and sculptures is showcased in the majesty of El Sakakini palace, both in its interior and exterior.

As the name implies, the palace was built by the Syrian Gabriel Habib El Sakakini who was born in Damascus and first arrived to Egypt to work for the Suez Canal Company in Port Said. Later, he moved to Cairo and became a prominent contractor and the owner of the most distinguished palaces in Egypt.

It is known that one of Sakakini’s heirs, a doctor who worked in the palace, has gifted this masterpiece to the Egyptian Ministry of Health.

The palace stands as a focal landmark overlooking eight roads and the district around the palace became known as Hay El Sakakini.

The five-storey building is decorated with statues of women and children whereas the ceilings are painted with artistry that belongs to the Rococo style by which it was inspired. The palace comprises 50 rooms as well as 400 doors and windows. Additionally, it houses a collection of precious artifacts such as Dorrat Al Tag sculpture, remnants of a crocodile statue, as well as half-statue of Habib El Sakakini located at the top of the main entrance.

 

 

 

Photos by Ramy Hamdy