Details About Port Said

Port Said was founded in 1859 when excavation work for the Suez Canal began. Upon completion of the canal in 1869, the city continued to develop until the bombing attacks in 1956 during the Suez crisis. The town suffered additional damage in 1967 and 1973 during the wars with Israel. Today most of the structures have been rebuilt. Several of the original city streets feature buildings constructed in early 20th-century architecture, complete with wooden balconies. The city's resident population of approximately 400,000 still owes its economic existence to the Suez Canal. Egyptians from other parts of the country travel to Port Said to make use of its resort facilities. Though the beaches are only mediocre, the area offers a pleasant alternative for Cairo residents to escape the oppressive heat of summer.