Heliopolis Palace, Presidential palace in Heliopolis, Egypt
Heliopolis Palace is a palace and former hotel building in the Heliopolis district of Cairo that now serves as the presidential residence. The structure follows Moorish Revival design with a central hall supported by 22 Italian marble columns and reaching up to 55 meters in height.
Architect Ernest Jaspar designed the building as a luxury hotel that opened its doors in 1910 and welcomed international guests. During the First World War it served as a military hospital before later becoming the seat of government.
The name Heliopolis recalls the ancient Egyptian city of the sun, while the building itself displays Moorish arches and domes that reflect the wealth of the Belle Époque era. Today the complex serves as the seat of Egyptian government and represents state authority in a district that was once planned as a modern residential project for European immigrants.
The palace serves as the administrative headquarters of the Egyptian president and is not open to the public. Visitors can view the building only from the outside, as the entire grounds remain under heightened security measures.
In the basement of the original hotel ran a narrow-gauge railway system that connected kitchens, storerooms, and staff zones. This underground railway allowed rapid transport of food and goods without disturbing hotel operations above.
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