Tanta, Major commercial center in Nile Delta, Egypt
Tanta is a large city in the northern Nile Delta located between Cairo and Alexandria, serving as the administrative center of Gharbia Governorate. The city spreads across several districts with wide main avenues, residential neighborhoods of mid-rise buildings, and a dense network of side streets branching from the central commercial district.
The settlement grew rapidly during the 19th century through cotton cultivation and the establishment of a railway line to the coast. Trade involving the export of cotton to Europe shaped the development of the city into a commercial hub.
The city center revolves around Midan Al Kebir, a large square where shops and cafés gather. Vendors sell fresh oranges and other regional produce while locals go about their errands or meet in the streets.
The city sits on the railway line between Alexandria and the interior, allowing travelers to arrive or continue by train. The main thoroughfare connects several districts and leads to the expressway toward Cairo or Alexandria.
In October, an eight-day festival honoring the Sufi saint Ahmad Al-Badawi draws visitors from across Egypt. Confectioners sell traditional sweets such as halawa and mahlabiya, prepared according to old family recipes.
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