Cavafy's House | Things to do in Alexandria

Cavafy’s House

Constantine Cavafy (1863-1933) spent the last 25 years of his life in an apartment “Cavafy’s house” that opened as a museum on November 16, 1992. Cavafy’s street was known as Rue Lepsius during his time, but people have since renamed it Sharm El Sheikh. In Alexandria, not only have the street names changed, but Cavafy lived in a city that was well-known as a commercial and cosmopolitan center, a centuries-long crossroads of civilizations, and the capital of memories that the poet, along with E.M. Forster, Lawrence Durrell, and Stratis, described so provocatively.

Cavafy’s house is situated between St. Saba’s Greek Orthodox Church, the Greek Hospital, and the city’s brothels. He referred to these as “the temple of the soul,” “the temple of the body,” and “the temple of the flesh.” After Cavafy’s death, someone transformed the flat into a low-cost hospital. The Cavafy International Committee leased the flat in 1991, but people were still using it as a pension.

Famous scholar Professor George Savidis preserved Cavafy’s library. They brought it back to the flat, along with materials from a modest collection dedicated to the poet. They originally kept this collection at the Greek Consulate General in Alexandria’s Shatby neighborhood. After Cavafy’s death, someone sold most of his belongings. However, some of his friends who were still alive helped reproduce the ambiance of his house. Numerous pictures also help to conjure the mood of his period. His work has been translated into numerous languages, and his books and essays give a unique glimpse into the poet’s life and times.

Museum Reviews

Cute Cavafy House:

A small and cute museum, the house of the big poet. For people who love Cavafy, it is a very nice place with a great collection of his works. It is not very easy to find it as there are no signs, but if you are lucky, you will meet a very kind local man (who sells cute souvenirs) who will show you the staircase to the museum. As Greeks, we were truly enthusiastic that the man in the museum spoke Greek!

Everything Cavafy:

Constantine P. Cavafy is most probably my favorite poet, so you can imagine my excitement when visiting his former home, where he lived for the last 25 years of his life. Most of his furniture, – seen in the old photos of the apartment, has gone, although there are still a lot of beautiful pieces, along with many writings and photos. Unfortunately, they do not sell any books. The museum didn’t have much in English so I recommend using a translation app to scan the text into the language that you need. On the day I visited, it was free although donated. If you are trying to tap into a former vision of Alexandria, a former-century, nostalgia, then you will find it here.

Cavafy’s House, The home of the great Greek poet:

The house where the great Greek poet lived! In the rooms of the house, there are all the objects and books of Cavafy! His office, his bed, his collections! A visit to the museum is worth it, especially if you are Greek or admire the work of the poet!

Where poets create greatness:

Cavafy’s House is located on the second floor of an old turn-of-the-century house on a small side street. This is where the great poet lived and created. At his time, Alexandria was a multinational city where Greeks, Jews, Armenians, and others lived and prospered. Arabic element was a minority. This district once provided nighttime entertainment for a man’s darkest desires. Here, Cavafy found inspiration and lived. There are so many pictures in the apartment from his younger and later years, his handwritten will, his birth certificate in Greek, and many scripts and books. They also sell some publications to provide an income for the preservation of the place. The furniture is not antique but a true replica of the original, except for a couple of pieces. It is worth a visit, as from this place stems part of the world literature that belongs to all people.

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