Cavafy Museum (Poet C. P. Cavafy’s House) in Alexandria, Egypt

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.

FUN

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.

FUN

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.

10 Luxury Hotels in Cairo: Pyramids, Nile, and Downtown

Explore the top 10 luxury hotels in Cairo, precisely categorized by location and prestige. Choose...
Related post
FUN

Cavafy 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. The 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.

Pyramids Visitor’s Guide: Expert Tips, FAQs & Logistics

Master the mysteries of the ancient world with this essential guide to Giza Pyramids Visitor’s...
Related post
FUN

The Red Sea: Exploring its History, Geography, and Vibrant Coral Reefs

The Red Sea is a historically significant seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, situated between...
Related post
FUN
Affordable holiday package of Cairo tours and accommodation included....
Book now 5 days Dahabiya Nile cruise Luxor to Aswan to visit the ancient Egyptian attractions in upper Egypt joining an expert tour guide....
A Royal Commission The History of Al-Rifa'i Mosque

Highly recommended

Salam, This company is very responsive and accommodating. From the moment we started to chat via email, to the moment we left Egypt at the airport, these fellows were very professional. The tour covered most of what we wanted to see! We customized it to our needs and added some

More »
Amazing Egypt Tours Vacations in December Egypt Fun Tours

Amazing trip with Egypt Fun Tours

We had the time of our lives on a trip to Egypt and the Bahariya/White Desert with Egypt Fun Tours, too. I would highly recommend this company. They are very familiar with organizing this trip, and this means they are well-connected in the desert area. This was invaluable to us

More »

7 night Egypt Experience Cairo, Aswan, Luxor

Trip of a lifetime!! COVID SAFE!! Knowledgeable guide who loves to share the magic of Egypt with tourists. Friendly and accommodating. This company goes to the extreme to make clients feel welcome and help them. A family company that takes good care of its support staff. Must book the 7-night

More »

Islamic cairo and khan el khalili- great tour

Wonderful tour with the guide Hamada. I did not feel rushed at all. He explained a lot of facts about the city, the mosque, the water storage room, and also brought me to no-hassle shops. He picked a great place to eat and have Turkish coffee and a cold lemon

More »

Amazing one day tour

Fantastic tour. We were picked up at the airport early in the morning (6 am), and were dropped off in the evening after discovering amazing Cairo. The guide was knowledgeable and took us to many hidden places, which we wouldn’t have found without him. Thank you!

More »
Isis with wings

Top-rated Tour Packages

Isis with wings