Short answers
- Late 19th c.
- Salamlek linked to Khedive Abbas Hilmi II
- c. 1927
- Al-Haramlik constructed
- Royal era
- Further expansion
- 1952 onwards
- State use of the buildings
- Reign of Abbas Hilmi II
- Turn of the 20th century
- Farouk era
- Further expansion
- After 1952
- Gardens become the public experience
How to read this timeline
Popular descriptions often compress Montaza into one date. That is misleading, because the estate was assembled and rebuilt over decades. The entries below are grouped by what they actually refer to: a building, a period, or a change of use.
Late nineteenth century — the Salamlek
The Salamlek is linked to the late nineteenth century and to Khedive Abbas Hilmi II, with its design attributed to Dimitri Fabricius. This is the point at which Montaza takes shape as a royal estate rather than a coastal plot.
Around 1927 — Al-Haramlik
Al-Haramlik is constructed around 1927, with its design attributed to Ernesto Verrucci Bey. Its towers, balconies and arches give the estate the silhouette it is known for today.
The royal era and King Farouk
The estate is associated with the reign of King Farouk, a period of further expansion of the grounds and buildings. It is worth noting that the buildings were built in stages, so a visitor should not assume a single construction date for “Montaza Palace”.
1952 and after
The 1952 revolution ended the monarchy. The former royal buildings passed into state use, and the estate’s public life came to be centred on the gardens, the coast and the architecture seen from the grounds.
Dates after this point in our sources are less about individual buildings and more about use, maintenance and public access, which is exactly what a visitor should verify on the day.
Before the Salamlek — Alexandria’s revival
Montaza did not appear in isolation. In the nineteenth century Alexandria was rebuilt and reconnected to the sea, and the eastern shore towards Maamoura became attractive for coastal estates.
This is context rather than a precise building date, and we present it as such. It explains why an estate of this kind grew up on this stretch of coast in this period.
The turn of the twentieth century
The Salamlek is linked to the late nineteenth century and to Khedive Abbas Hilmi II, whose rule spanned the turn of the century.
In this period Montaza is best understood as an estate being assembled — gardens laid out and an earlier palace building in place — rather than as a completed scheme.
The 1920s and Al-Haramlik
Al-Haramlik is placed around 1927, with its design attributed to Ernesto Verrucci Bey. It is the later and more ornate of the two principal buildings, and the point at which the estate’s best-known silhouette appears.
Dates we deliberately do not state
There are widely repeated dates for Montaza that our sources do not clearly support, and some that conflate the estate, the gardens and a single building.
Rather than invent precision, we leave those out and point readers to the documented sources instead. A missing date is better than a false one.
Frequently asked questions
Was Montaza Palace built in 1892?
That date is commonly attached to the beginnings of the estate and to the Salamlek. It should not be applied to the whole estate or to Al-Haramlik, which dates to around 1927.
What is the most important date at Montaza?
Two matter most: the late-nineteenth-century Salamlek and Al-Haramlik around 1927. The Farouk era added further expansion.
When did Montaza stop being royal?
The monarchy ended in 1952, after which the former royal buildings were taken into state use.
Is the timeline complete?
It covers the points our sources support. We deliberately avoid adding dates we cannot verify, and invite readers to check the official and academic sources we list.
Does the timeline cover the gardens as well as the buildings?
It follows the estate as a whole, so it refers to the gardens and the buildings together, but it does not assign a single date to the gardens, which developed in stages.
Why are some dates approximate?
Because the documented sources themselves give periods rather than exact years for some elements. We prefer an honest approximation to a false precision.