Egyptian ornaments
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The Royal Jewellery Museum
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When:
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Daily
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Where:
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The Royal Jewellery Museum
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| Costs: |
E£35
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| Opening Hours: |
9am-5pm; various during Ramadan
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Housed in a mansion built for Mohammed Ali's granddaughter Princess Fatima el-Zaharaa, the Royal Jewellery Museum in Alexandria displays rare paintings, statues, decorations and a vast collection of precious artefacts belonging to the 19th-century Mohammed Ali dynasty.
Among the highlights are a platinum crown decorated with thousands of diamonds, Mohammed Ali's own diamond, King Farouk's gold chess set and his gardening tools, the latter also studded with diamonds.
The building itself is an architectural masterpiece, rich in bizarre decorations. Don't miss the bathrooms on the upper floor, featuring murals of bathing nymphs and French fishermen respectively.
Please note that the museum is due to reopen after renovation in May 2006. Visitors can benefit from a new statue exhibition, a cafeteria and a gift shop.
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