Alexandria National Museum may be the temple of Egyptian heritage, but mere kilometers away lies another treasure that tells a completely different, however, equally fascinating, tale – the Royal Jewelry Museum. While the National Museum takes you through broad Egyptian history from Pharaonic times to now, the Royal Jewelry Museum matters itself with a more sumptuous and recent chapter: the lives and legacies of Egypt’s royal family.
Located in the exhaustive elegant districts of Zizenia, the Royal Jewelry Museum is a gory celebration of wealth and elegance, but also provide an insight into the design, culture, and character of the 19th and 20th-century Egyptian monarchies.
A Palace of Jewels
The Royal Jewelry Museum is located in a former royal palace that was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century for the use and residence of Princess Fatma Al-Zahraa of the Mohamed Ali dynasty. The palace itself is a work of art with the fusion of European architecture with Islamic and classical elements. Entering into the palace, one immediately finds oneself hanging in the fragrance of stained glass, gilded ceilings, and hand-painted walls.
Since its transformation into a public museum in 1986 and subsequent restoration in 2010, the Royal Jewelry Museum has been able to regain its former glory, have the royal collection of artifacts displayed for all to see.
What’s Inside the Royal Jewelry Museum?
It houses one of the largest collections of royal jewelry and possessions in the Middle East. The collection of jewels belonged to various members of the Mohamed Ali family that ruled Egypt from the early nineteenth century till the monarchy was dissolved in 1952.
It is worthy of mention that among the top highlights are the following:
Diamond-encrusted tiaras and brooches that belonged to Queen Farida
A golden chess set imbued with precious stones belonging to King Farouk
A gold-plated tea set, medals, watches, and cutlery
Jewelry of Princess Fawzia, sister to King Farouk and Queen of Iran
Sapphire, ruby, and emerald necklaces, rings, and earrings worn in various royal functions
What makes it so unique is the casting of chronicles. It mixes personal history with national legacy. One item opens an entryway into royal life — birthday celebrations, weddings, public ceremonies, celebrations — all told in the language of lavish beauty.
The Building Itself Is a Masterpiece
If you weren’t interested in jewelry in the first place, a visit to the Royal Jewelry Museum would still be worthwhile for the palace. Examples of what to expect in such a building are:
Italian and French stained glass windows of considerable beauty
Hand-carved wooden staircases
Painted ceilings with mythological subject matter
Decorated floors of exquisite marble and mosaic
The museum has been laid out in such as way that every room is like stepping into a new scene on a royal movie set, with glass domes spilling natural light and artworks lining every hallway.
Tips for Visiting
Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Daily
Entry fee: Around 100 EGP for foreigners, and 20 to 30 EGP for Egyptian nationals
Photography: Usually permitted for an additional fee
Best days: Weekday mornings for a quiet experience
Where to find it: 21 Ahmed Yehia Street, Zizenia, Alexandria
Nearby cafés and other attractions make it easy for a half-day tour of Alexandria.
What It Means
The Royal Jewelry Museum tells the story of Egypt’s monarchy not through words but in the language of glitter. It is more than just wealth — it is about taste, tradition, and the contemporary history of a nation that went through drastic transformation in the twentieth century.
It is a reminder to Egyptians of a fascinating chapter in their history; to tourists, it is an unusually rare opportunity to walk through a palace and admire not only how royalty lived — but also how they celebrated life.
Alexandria National Museum: Discovering the Royal Splendor of Egypt’s Monarchy at Royal Jewelry Museum shows us how history can be told in many ways — sometimes in stone statues and ancient scrolls, and at other times in shimmering diamonds, rubies, and silk gowns. While the Alexandria National Museum runs through the long sweeping trajectory of thousands of years, the Royal Jewelry Museum zooms into the glittering last few decades of Egypt’s royal history.
Put together, the two museums lay glances upon the lavish facets of Alexandria during Egyptian history. If you wish to feel how Egypt’s royal life transpires at the present time, dive into the sphere of charm and empire that is the Royal Jewelry Museum, whereby every gem has a story to tell.
