Egypt Unveils Plan to Turn Historic Rosetta into Open-Air Museum

Egyptian authorities have unveiled a new initiative to transform the historic city of Rosetta (Rashid), located on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, into an open-air museum as part of a broader effort to boost cultural tourism and preserve heritage sites.

The plan includes adapting heritage buildings to host boutique-style hotel rooms, aiming to attract both local and international visitors while maintaining the city’s architectural identity.

Beheira Governor Jacqueline Azar said Rosetta is the governorate’s historical capital and one of Egypt’s most significant heritage destinations, citing its exceptional historical and cultural value.

“Rosetta represents the depth and authenticity of Beheira governorate and continues to draw Egyptian and foreign tourists seeking to explore its rich history,” Azar said.

She added that authorities have completed a comprehensive assessment of the city’s tourism development needs, with implementation expected to begin in the coming weeks.

The initiative will focus on Rosetta’s historic core, particularly Sheikh Qandil Street and Dehliz Al-Malik, which officials say best reflect the city’s traditional urban character. These areas will be redeveloped as an open-air museum, alongside the introduction of hotel rooms within heritage houses—an approach modeled on similar projects in Aswan and Giza.

Rosetta is considered one of Egypt’s richest cities in terms of Islamic-era architecture and ranks second after Cairo in the number of historic buildings. The city contains 22 registered heritage houses, 10 historic mosques, an ancient bathhouse, a mill, a historic gate, the Qaitbay Citadel, and remnants of an old city wall.

Most of the city’s monuments date back to the Ottoman period, while the Qaitbay Citadel, Rosetta Gate, and parts of the old wall originate from the Mamluk era.

Historically known as the “Gateway of the Nile” and the “Port of Egypt,” Rosetta was once the country’s most important Mediterranean harbor before the rise of Alexandria during the reign of Mohamed Ali. It served as a key transit point for European trade bound for Cairo via the Rosetta branch of the Nile, a strategic role that prompted the construction of the Qaitbay Citadel to defend the city.

Officials say the initiative aims to restore Rosetta’s historical standing and establish it as a major cultural tourism destination on Egypt’s northern coast.