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Türkiye’s Ambassador to Egypt, Salih Mutlu Sen, visited the Great Cairo Library, also known as Princess Samiha’s Palace, where he presented a collection of notable works, each accompanied by a personal message.
The library’s director, Yahya Riyad Youssef, welcomed the ambassador, who provided him with an overview of the library’s activities and its comprehensive book collection.
He also noted that the library houses 120,000 books in Arabic, English, and French.
According to him, the Princess Samiha’s Palace is meticulously preserved as a historic heritage site and is highly regarded both as a library and a palace.
Director Yahya Riyad Youssef warmly praised the Ambassador’s generous donation, which featured notable works such as, Three Centuries: The History of a Family in Türkiye and Egypt by Amina Fouad Tugay, niece of King Fouad, recently published in Egypt with the Ambassador’s support.
Another notable work is, From the Banks of the Nile to the Bosphorus, a bilingual Turkish-English work exploring the life and heritage of the Muhammad Ali dynasty between Istanbul and Cairo.
Also included in the collection is, The Turks in Egypt and Their Cultural Heritage, a highly significant work by Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, which has made a major contribution to understanding and preserving the shared history and figures of Türkiye and Egypt.
During his visit, the library’s director, Yahya Riyad Youssef, led Ambassador Sen through the various sections of the historic palace, which is carefully preserved as both a heritage landmark and a hub for cultural exchange. He also highlighted the library’s regular cultural programs and extended an invitation for the Ambassador to participate in future events.
According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the palace is located in the Zamalek district of central Cairo and was built in 1320 AH / 1902 AD. It was later purchased by Princess Samiha, daughter of Sultan Hussein Kamel, who had a deep passion for the arts and requested that the palace be dedicated to cultural purposes. In 1995, the palace was transformed into the Great Cairo Library.
Constructed in the Andalusian-Islamic style, the palace consists of a basement and three floors. It features four facades and a circular tower at the southwestern corner, reminiscent of medieval fortress towers. On the third floor, there is a circular hall that once served as Princess Samiha’s studio.
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