Ras El Tin Palace

The palace has a long historical association with Egyptian royalty, being connected with the Muhammad Ali dynasty during the 19th and 20th centuries. based on the shape of a Roman fort. such as his design for the entrance gate with its coat of arms. A number of other foreign architects and engineers were also commissioned by Muhammad Ali for the design and construction of the palace. Construction started in 1834 and was completed to the original design in 1845. Alterations and the construction of additional wings continued until it was finished in 1847. Built in the style of a grand château, it was used as the official summer residence for the Egyptian monarch and government, during the season when Alexandria became Egypt's working capital. It is said by tradition to be the site of negotiations between Muhammad Ali and Admiral Sir Charles Napier during the Oriental Crisis of 1840. During the reign of Khedive Ismail it became the summer vacation home of the rulers of the Muhammad Ali family. In 1879, Khedive Ismail was forced to leave Egypt from the palace. During World War II, the palace was used as a headquarters and hospital for the British Naval Command. Farouk signed his abdication in the palace and departed from it to leave Egypt and go into exile. The palace was subsequently nationalized, as were the other former royal palaces in the country. It was used as a presidential residence and for hosting state guests. ==Style==

Ras El Tin Palace has the shape of a large Italian Renaissance palace, with architectural elements and ornamentation inspired by that era, along with Baroque and Moorish elements. It became a three-storey building and a mosque was built on the site. At one end of the building was the harem, but this had become disused. King Farouk added the Princesses Building to the palace. After the Second World War, he had a marine pool built on the Mediterranean breakwater. The pool was linked to Ras Al-Teen with a narrow and long paved lane atop the breakwater, with a jeep used to pass through waves breaking over it. The adjacent pool house included a sitting room, bed chamber, fully equipped small kitchen, and rooms for staff and storing recreation and fishing gear. ==Current usage==

The formal garden is open to the public, but not the palace itself. The palace now serves as a presidential residence and hosts state guests and events. There is no public museum, unlike the Montaza Palace royal gardens and museum, also in Alexandria. ==See also==