www.touregypt.net Cairo is a densely populated city, with green spaces few and far between. However, many parks have survived the urban sprawl and bigger attention is constantly given to preserving Cairo's green spaces and increasing them.
One of the districts known for its vast green spaces is the island of Zamalek. The southern part of Zamalek is where the greenery is most preserved; this is partially due to the fact that there are three sporting clubs located there.
The Andalusian Garden, or 'Hadikat Al-Andalus', is located in Gezira between Qasr al-Nil Bridge and Sixth October Bridge. This is a wonderful little park located in the southern part of Zamalek Island, just minutes away from the downtown area.
Zamalek is best approached across the Qasr el-Nil (Tahrir) Bridge from Midan Tahrir, which brings you to Gezira Square. In the proximity of the park lies many interesting and famous landmarks of the capital. Al-Gezira Square (Midan al-Gezira) is dominated by a statue of Sa'ad Zaghlul, nationalist leader of the 1930’s, founder of the Waqf party and the first prime minister of the independent monarchy.
The Andalus Garden was established in 1929 by Zulfugar Pasha as a present to his wife. This garden covers an area of 8,400 square metres.
The park itself is very pleasant with well kept greenery, walkways, benches from where one can quietly observe the Nile and crossing-by feluccas. A quite walk along the Nile banks while admiring the scenery of lush gardens and beautiful landscapes certainly separates one from the noise and hassle of the city traffic.
On the other side of the Bridge, there is a riverside café/restaurant where one could rest and have a quick bite after a tour in the garden and site seeing in the area. Casino El-Nil is quite an old establishment that has a very good view of the river and famous for being a weekly hangout for Noble Prize Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz. |