Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa, is a port city located in the Northern Red Sea region of Eritrea. It sits on the coast of the Red Sea at the northern end of the Gulf of Zula, situated adjacent to the Dahlak Archipelago.
The city has served as a historically significant port for many centuries. Throughout its history, Massawa has been ruled or occupied by various polities, including the Dahlak Sultanate, the Ottoman Empire, the Khedivate of Egypt, and the Kingdom of Italy.