Heliopolis celebrates its 121 anniversary in vintage style.
Photo by Amira Noshokaty
On Friday, 15 May, Heliopolis marked the launch of the Heliopolis Anniversary Week (HAW). The event, which will be celebrated annually, is the brainchild of Heliopolis Heritage Initiative (HHI). Established in 2011, HHI is a grassroots organization that aims to protect and promote the ancient district's intangible and tangible cultural heritage.
The HAW is celebrating 121 years of Heliopolis this year. The one-week celebration includes talks, exhibitions, and a classic car carnival. It will also organize walks for visitors wishing to explore the architectural gems of Heliopolis, the City of the Sun.
Heliopolis (the Sun City), whose Arabic name is Misr Al Gadida (New Egypt), was named after the ancient city of Heliopolis, which lies close by. Built in the new Islamic style, Heliopolis was designed by European architects who applied the architectural style prevalent in Mamluk mosques to designing the residential areas, thus infusing Islamic motifs into the district's design.
Vintage cars open museum
Think of the lavish black-and-white movies, where the streets are vast, the buildings are inviting, and the cars take you to places of enchantment. With vintage music lingering in the background, people flocked in to get a taste of the golden days of Heliopolis.
On the second day of the Heliopolis Anniversary week (HAW), at Ghurnata, which used to be the premises of the famous Horse Race of Heliopolis, one of the most enchanting events of the festivity took place. Currently, the venue has become a community space for Heliopolis run by Heliopolis Company. Over 20 classic cars were neatly polished and showed off their grace, beauty, and pristine condition. The cars ranged from Volkswagens (Beetles) to the Buicks of Egypt's late president Gamal Abdel Nasser. The cars paraded against the backdrop of the Ghurnata City Horse Racing Complex, an architectural marvel in its own right.
People walked in to take photos of the cars, sit in them, and marvel at how well-maintained they are. They were also informed of the stories behind them.
Capturing the moment in a sketch
Spending the day on premises that go back over a hundred years can be quite a treat. Renowned artist Michael Safwat held an event where he drew sketches illustrating the details of the old track and the marvels of its design.
The Royal Lounge
The royal lounge, where Egypt's late King Farouk used to sit, has now been renovated. It hosts the monthly Heliopolis Cultural Salon and includes a gallery displaying old photos of the premises.
Taking the cars for a spin
The day concluded with an amazing vintage car parade, co-organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of Egypt and FIVA (Federation Internationale Des Vehicules Anciens).
Short link: