MUSEUM OF ILLUMINATION, MINIATURE AND CALLIGRAPHY
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Magnificent museum of illumination, miniatures and calligraphy built in 1798 by the dey Mustapha Pacha.
Restored as part of the event "Algiers, Cultural Capital of the Arab World", Dar Mustapha Pasha is reopened to the public since 2007 and houses the National Museum of Illumination, Miniature and Calligraphy. This magnificent palace was built in 1798 by the dey Mustapha Pasha (1798-1805) for his family. Mustapha Pasha had built several villas in the fahs, the Algerian countryside of which many plots of land had been given to him by his uncle Hassan Pasha. This is how the French called Mustapha, the southern suburb of the city.
After being the property of Hassan Pasha's son at the assassination of Mustapha Pasha in 1805, the house was then occupied by French generals from 1830. It became the National Library until 1948 after having housed a museum of ancient art. In 1962, the National Liberation Front installed its administrative services there. The carved cedar wood doors, the marble basin of the patio, the sqifa where niches with columns decorated with magnificent Delft faience tiles are integrated, the 500 000 Italian, Tunisian, Spanish and Dutch faience tiles make it one of the most beautiful palaces of the Casbah.
In some rooms of the palace are exposed magnificent illuminations as well as works of miniaturists and calligraphers.
To better understand the museum, we can only advise you to opt for a guided tour, simply fascinating!
