The garden of Al Montazah is 3000 meters wide contains a huge selection of trees and plants, some of them quite rare. Some of the tropical plants are still in good shape although they have been planted more than 75 years ago. The plant collection in Montazah includes Catania, huge boots, Zamia, Carlota, and special types of palms. This is beside the big size plants like Anthurium, Hokiry, Araliaceae, Victoria, and Ropilia.
The Helnan Palestine Hotel
The hotel was built on the orders of the former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser to host the first Arab Summit which was attended by all the Arab president and kings of that time. Afterward, the hotel became the lodgings of most of the kings, queens, presidents, and important figures who visit EgyptThe hotel contains 233 rooms and all of them have splendid sea or garden views.
It also has 20 suites, two royal suites, and a villa which takes the whole space of the sixth floor of the hotel and is suitable for large families and groups. The villa contains 6 rooms, special private kitchen, and a big reception hall.
The Helnan Palestine Hotel is famous for its various delicious restaurants. The “Estacoza Restaurant’, located directly on the sea, offers delicious fresh seafood dishes that like their famous seafood platter.
The Salamlek Palace and Hotel
The Salamlek hotel provides its visitors with the luxurious style of the life of kings and queens.
The Palace was designed by Dmitri Fabersious, one of the most famous architects at the time. It was designed using a lot of rich decorations and it contained an artificial forest at the time and it was full of animals that the Khedive and his companions used to go and hunt. The garden of the Palace has Italian cannons that King Ahmed Fouad brought from Europe to defend the Palace against any attack that might come from the seaThe palace was used as a military hospital in World War I where British soldiers were often transferred to receive treatment
The most fascinating suite in the hotel is the Crystal Suite or the Queen Royal Suite. It was named that way because all of its items were made out of blue glass and crystal. The Haramlek Palace was built by King Ahmed Fouad in 1925 when he ordered his Italian architect, Firotche, to construct it to be the summer residence of the Royal Family of Egypt at the time.
Today, the Montazah Complex serves as one of the most popular picnic spots in Alexandria. The last time I went to Alexandria, I took my wife and mother to the Montazah. My mother wanted to rest in the Helnan Hotel where she stayed in the Zodiac Restaurant and had a lemon juice and a club sandwich while she was reading her novel happily in front of the sea. The visit was a wonderful experience and we all loved it.
