Downtown Cairo
Encyclopedia
Downtown Cairo, has been the urban center of Cairo
, Egypt
since the late 19th century, when the district was designed and built.
was commissioned by Khedive Ismail. It was he who stressed the importance of urban planning for the first time in Cairo, to include broad, linear gridded streets, geometric harmony and modern European architectural style.
It was once home to the prosperous elite of late 19th and early 20th century Cairo. It is a relic of a bygone era — Egypt's Belle epoque — and demonstrates the Khedive's vision for developing Egypt. Yet decades of neglect by the neighborhood's landlords and tenants, precipitated by the exodus of the expatriate community after the 1952 Revolution
led by Gamal Abdel Nasser
, and the ensuing departure of the upper classes, have left the ornate splendor of its ornate edifices mired in decay. Lax enforcement of laws and regulations gave way to the entry of commercial establishments into the neighborhood, mostly with no regard to maintaining aesthetic harmony or preserving the historic buildings.
Square. The store was owned by an Italian, descendant of the Groppi Family, and survived the nationalizing movements in the 1950s and 1960s.
Pacha lay in wait for his target; and where several members of the resistance during the 1919 revolution met the basement to organize their activities and print their flyers.
Cafe Riche later became an intellectual hub frequented by people such as Nagib Mahfouz, Taha Hussein, and Ahmed Fouad Negm
, which caused notable damage across the city and country, did national campaigns to preserve heritage form, such as the Historic Cairo Restoration Project
.
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
since the late 19th century, when the district was designed and built.
History
The area, designed by prestigious French architectsFrench architecture
The history of French architecture runs in parallel with its neighbouring countries in Europe, with France being home to both some of the earliest pioneers in many architectural styles, and also containing some of the finest architectural creations of the continent.-Roman:The architecture of...
was commissioned by Khedive Ismail. It was he who stressed the importance of urban planning for the first time in Cairo, to include broad, linear gridded streets, geometric harmony and modern European architectural style.
It was once home to the prosperous elite of late 19th and early 20th century Cairo. It is a relic of a bygone era — Egypt's Belle epoque — and demonstrates the Khedive's vision for developing Egypt. Yet decades of neglect by the neighborhood's landlords and tenants, precipitated by the exodus of the expatriate community after the 1952 Revolution
1952 Revolution
The Egyptian Revolution of 1952 , also known as the 23 July Revolution, began on 23 July 1952, with a military coup d'état by the Free Officers Movement, a group of army officers led by Muhammad Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser. The revolution was initially aimed at overthrowing King Farouk...
led by Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
, and the ensuing departure of the upper classes, have left the ornate splendor of its ornate edifices mired in decay. Lax enforcement of laws and regulations gave way to the entry of commercial establishments into the neighborhood, mostly with no regard to maintaining aesthetic harmony or preserving the historic buildings.
Groppi
One of the most famous ice cream stores, and one of the earliest, is located in Talaat HarbTalaat Harb street
Talaat Harb Street is a historic street in downtown Cairo, Egypt, connecting Tahrir Square—Liberation Square and Talaat Harb Square.-Naming:...
Square. The store was owned by an Italian, descendant of the Groppi Family, and survived the nationalizing movements in the 1950s and 1960s.
Café Riche
One of the most renowned downtown landmarks, on the 29th of Talaat Harb Street, is the Café Riche which opened in 1908. The cafe witnessed many historically significant events over the last century: said to be where the King Farouk saw his second wife, Nariman Sadek; where the perpetrator of the 1919 failed assassination attempt on Egypt's last Coptic Prime Minister, Youssef WahbaYoussef Wahba
Youssef Wahba Pasha Egypt ian Prime Minister and jurist.Youssef Wahba was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1852 of a prominent Coptic family. His father, Wahba Bey had been a founder of the first Coptic charitable society that included Muslim scholars such as Abdallah Nadim and Sheikh Muhammed Abduh...
Pacha lay in wait for his target; and where several members of the resistance during the 1919 revolution met the basement to organize their activities and print their flyers.
Cafe Riche later became an intellectual hub frequented by people such as Nagib Mahfouz, Taha Hussein, and Ahmed Fouad Negm
Ahmed Fouad Negm
Ahmed Fouad Negm -Background:Ahmed Fouad Negm was born to a family of fellahin the Egyptian countryside. His mother, Hanem Morsi Negm, was a housewife, and his father Mohammed Ezat Negm, a police officer. Negm was one of seventeen brothers, only six of whom are still living...
Restoration
Heritage groups have long called for a national campaign to preserve and restore the area's architectural legacy and beauty. Only since the 1992 earthquake1992 Cairo earthquake
The 1992 Cairo earthquake occurred at 13:09 UTC on 12 October, with an epicenter near Dahshur, 35 km south of Cairo. The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.8, but was unusually destructive for its size, causing 545 deaths, injuring 6512 and making 50,000 people homeless...
, which caused notable damage across the city and country, did national campaigns to preserve heritage form, such as the Historic Cairo Restoration Project
Historic Cairo Restoration Project
The Historic Cairo Restoration Project is an effort by the governments of Egypt and Cairo to restore and renovate historic Medieval Islamic Cairo. Al-Qahira was officially founded here in 969 CE by the Fatamid caliphs as an imperial capital and walled city, just to the north of the preceding...
.
See also
- Tahrir Square
- Qasr al-Ayn StreetQasr al-Ayn StreetQasr El-Einy Street ; also known as Tahir Qasr El-Einy Street is one of the oldest streets in Downtown Cairo, Egypt.-Namesake:...
- Talaat Harb StreetTalaat Harb streetTalaat Harb Street is a historic street in downtown Cairo, Egypt, connecting Tahrir Square—Liberation Square and Talaat Harb Square.-Naming:...