Rosetta Attractions

The once important port and commercial town of Rosetta (Rashid) lies 9mi/15km above the mouth of the Rosetta arm of the Nile, probably on the site of ancient Boibitine, after which this westerly arm of the river was known in antiquity as the Boibitine arm.

History

Founded in A.D. 870, in the time of the Caliphs, Rosetta was from medieval into modern times the principal Egyptian port and a major center of Mediterranean trade. After the construction of the Mahmudiya Canal, however, it was rapidly overshadowed by Alexandria, which was developed by Mohammed Ali and took the place of Rosetta as a port and commercial center. Rosetta is still an important center of the rice trade, with several rice mills, and also has foodstuff, tobacco and textile industries.