The musical accompanying the introductory part of our page is from Opera ‘Aida” by Giuseppe Verde. Verdi was commissioned to compose his famous opera, "Aida" for the opening ceremony of the Suez Canal in 1969. Ironically, Verdi did not complete the work in time and "Aida" premiered at the Cairo Opera a year later. On November 17, 1869, the Canal was officially inaugurated by Khedive Ismail in an extravagant and lavish ceremony. French, British, Russian, and other Royalty were invited for the inauguration which coincided with the re-planning of Cairo and an Opera House was built. A highway was constructed linking Cairo to the new city by the Suez Canal: Ismailia Attached a map for the Ismailia

 

 Ismailia Governorate consists of an area of approximately 4482.8 km2 or 0.46% of Egypt's area, along the west bank of the Suez Canal. It has 70 km along the east coast. It is the capital of the Canal region where the Suez Canal Authority has its headquarters, and where the Suez Canal University is established.