Zamalek

[4][1] And the southern, green two thirds that have sports grounds, parks and a cultural district, and is still colloquially referred to as Gezira (lit.

[7] The Zamalek portion of the island is a mixed residential and administrative neighbourhood that is almost a diplomatic quarter with at least 52 embassies and consulates,[8] in addition to a number of ambassadors' residences taking up what is left of its early 20th Century villas and mansions, many of them of the Art Deco style.

[17] A former fair grounds located near the Qasr al-Nil and Galaa bridges has been converted over time into a cultural district where the central attraction is the modern Cairo Opera House.

The kiosk was replaced in 1869 with the Gezirah Palace, a U-shaped summer mansion, which was designed by Julius Franz Pasha and decorated by Karl Von Diebitsch.

Today the Gezira Palace is the central part of the Cairo Marriott Hotel, with its rooftop having an open-air theatre facing the Nile.

Several notable Egyptian figures lived in Zamalek including the Diva of the East Umm Kulthum and the famous movie star Salah Zulfikar.

Aerial view looking south, with the Zamalek and Gezira districts on Gezira Island , surrounded by the Nile .
A boat on the Nile in the Zamalek area.
Gezira Island is home to the Cairo Opera House .
Bulaq and Zamalek (undeveloped, and labeled as "Bulaq Island"), in the c.1800 Description de l'Égypte
District map of the West District (Hayy Gharb), showing qism Zamalek's four shiakhas, in addition to qism Qasr al-Nil
The Cairo Tower and Opera Square at night.