The green island on the Nile
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On the northern half of Gezira Island, Zamalek is Cairo’s most peaceful district: tree-lined streets, villas, embassies, galleries, bookshops and restaurants. The Cairo Tower and the Opera House stand at the other end of the island, and feluccas leave from the banks.
In the 19th century, Khedive Ismail built a palace and large gardens on the island. In the early 20th century, Zamalek filled with villas and Art Deco buildings for Cairo’s cosmopolitan elite, and it keeps that calm, international atmosphere today.
