Antoniades Gardens

Alexandria, Egypt, Egypt

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Antoniades Gardens in Alexandria, Egypt are the oldest gardens in Alexandria and among the oldest man-made gardens in the world, with some historians tracing their origins back to the Ptolemaic period.

Located east of Alexandria in the Smouha area near the Mahmoudia Canal and adjacent to Nozha Park, the gardens span about 50 acres and feature rare roses, more than 38 types of trees, and 27 types of palms. The gardens were named after John Antoniadis, a wealthy Greek cotton merchant who owned them in the 1870s, and after his death, his son Anthony gifted the palace and gardens to Alexandria's Municipality in 1918.

The complex includes three main sections: the Picnic Garden with large cultivated areas, the Antoniadis Garden containing the historical 19th-century Palais d'Antoniadis palace and royal greenhouse, and a symmetrical geometric Rose Garden with four terraces converging on a central fountain.

The gardens are famous for their distinguished collection of full-size marble statues depicting mythical and historical figures, Greek-style installations, tree-lined paths, fountains, and flower beds, creating a peaceful oasis in Alexandria's dusty and hot city. The historic villa hosted Egypt's visiting dignitaries including kings of Belgium, Greece, and Italy, and witnessed significant events like the signing of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936 and the founding of the Arab League in 1946.