It was once home to the prosperous elite of late 19th and early 20th century Cairo . It is a relic of a bygone era — '' ' Egypt 's Belle epoque ' '' — and demonstrates the vision for developing Egypt . Yet decades of neglect by the neighbourhood 's landlords and tenants following the burning of most of Cairo 's buildings during the popular Cairo fire incident prior the 1952 Revolution led by Gamal Abdel Nasser , and the ensuing departure of the upper classes , have left the splendor of its ornate edifices mired in decay . Lax enforcement of laws and regulations gave way to the entry of commercial establishments into the neighborhood , mostly with no regard to maintaining aesthetic harmony or preserving the historic buildings of Downtown Cairo . Now , most of the historic buildings within the area were renovated by the ministry Of housing , utilities and urban development
Cairo fire
Cairo fire
Downtown Cairo