Beit al Umma

Description:

• This is the house of Sa'ad Zaghloul, a key Egyptian nationalist in the early 20th century. Zaghloul led the Wafd party, had a brief stint as prime minister in 1924, and represented the possibility of a peaceful transition from the British occupation to civilian government after World War I. The modesty of the Zaghloul residence contrasts sharply with the extravagant ostentation in which subsequent military rulers of the country lived. The house is maintained in a calm and reverential atmosphere, with the same carpets, furnishings, and everyday items that were here when Zaghloul lived here. If you visit the office, note the arrangement of the desk in relation to the window; Zaghloul had a (well-founded) fear of being attacked and had his furniture arranged so that he could keep an eye on every avenue of approach.

• © Frommer's 2013