Discover Egypt’s hidden Gem, Damietta

CAIRO – 10 May 2022: Damietta Governorate celebrates its National Day on May 8 of each year, the date that coincides with the city’s heroic resistance to the Crusaders’ invasion and defeating them in 1250.

Damietta Governorate is rich in many tourist attractions, most prominently Ras El-Bar Island, which is one of the famous tourist areas and summer resorts in Egypt.

The island houses a group of tourist destinations, including Al-Garba tourist area, the Sea Corniche, the Nile Street, in addition to the Palm Beach, and Ras El-Bar Bay.

Also located in Damietta is the Sharabas Island, or Banana Island. The island is famous for the cultivation of all kinds of bananas. It was turned into a nature reserve in 1998.

Moreover, there are 18 hotel facilities in Damietta, with a capacity of 742 rooms, in addition to 155 hotel suites.

Damietta houses many archaeological sites, including the archaeological hills, such as Tel Shata, which is located east of the city of Damietta, and where two red-brick water tanks were found dating back to the Roman era; and Tel el-Deir, which includes a necropolis from the Greek and Roman eras, and where stone tombs and burial remains were found.

This is in addition to Tel el-Etham, which is located north of the city of Damietta, where some Roman bronze coins and pottery pots and pans were found; and Tel al-Kashef, where pottery vessels, amphorae, and parts of columns from the Roman era were found.

Located at the northern end of the city of Damietta, Tel el-Kala’a [Citadel Hill] housed Greek and Roman antiquities, including pottery vessels and lamps.

Among the most important archaeological mosques in the governorate is the Abu Al-Maati Mosque, also known as the Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque and Al-Fateh Mosque. This mosque is currently located in the city's grand cemetery and is considered one of the most famous and oldest mosques in Damietta.

There is also Al-Ma’ini Mosque and Madrasa, which is located within a building complex on Al-Ma’ini Street in the city of Damietta and is considered one of the most important Islamic monuments in the governorate. It was built around the year 845 AH / 1450 AD in the Iwan style that prevailed in the Mamluk era.

Additionally, Damietta is home to the marvelous Dome of Zawiyat Al-Ansari, Dome of Al-Diyasti, Al-Hadidi Mosque, Orabi Castle, Damietta Metal Bridge, and Al-Zawiya Al-Radwaniyah.