Culture Minister Helmi el Namnam on Saturday paid a visit to Aisha Fahmy Palace in Zamalek. 

The visit came as the place is getting ready to be opened soon after years of restoration and development works. 

Founded in 1907, by Khedive Abbas Helmy and designed by Antonio Lasciac, the total space of the palace covers over 2,700 square metres, including 30 rooms, two large halls, basement and roof, all richly ornamented.

The palace was the residence of Ali Fahmy, the head of the army during the reign of King Fouad I. 

In 1958, the Ministry of Culture bought the palace to be used as an office for Tharwat Okasha, Egypt's first culture minister. 

In 1971, the palace was taken over by the Ministry of Information. A few years later, in 1975, Youssef El-Sebai annexed the palace to the Visual Arts sector operating under the Ministry of Culture, which he then headed.