Egypt, the country known for Nile, magnificent monuments, charming desert and lush delta, and with its long past and welcoming, story-loving people.
With sand-covered tombs, austere pyramids and towering Pharaonic temples, Egypt brings out the explorer in all of us. Visit the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, where Tutankhamun’s tomb was unearthed, and see the glittering finds in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Hop off a Nile boat to visit Dendara, Edfu or one of the other waterside temples, cross Lake Nasser to see Ramses II’s masterpiece at Abu Simbel, or trek into the desert to find the traces of Roman trading outposts.
The metropolis is packed with soaring minarets and medieval schools and mosques, some of the greatest architecture of medieval Islam. At the same time, Egypt’s native Christians, the Copts, have carried on their traditions that in many respects – such as the church’s liturgical language and the traditional calendar – link back to the time of the pharaohs.
The coast along the Red Sea has a rugged desert beauty above the waterline and a colored vibrancy below. There is even more space and just as much beauty in Egypt’s vast deserts. Whether you’re watching the sun rise between the beautiful shapes of the White Desert or the shimmering horizon from the comfort of a hot spring in Siwa Oasis, Egypt’s landscapes are endlessly fascinating.
Egypt is full with religious sites that you should visit while being there.
Al Bagawat Cemetery (Kharga): One of the largest ancient Christian cemeteries in the world, al Bagawat in the Western Desert is still comprised of more than 200 domed mausoleums, some of which contain exceptional wall paintings depicting biblical scenes.
Church of St. George (Cairo): a small, domed Church in Coptic Cairo built on top of the ruins of the Roman Fortress of Babylon. With the lights low and the lines of candles flickering beside the altar, this is one of the most atmospheric spots in all of Cairo.
Monastery of St. Anthony (Red Sea): Set in the middle of the magnificently stark scenery of the remote Red Sea coast, this ancient monastery was built on the site near Anthony’s cave where his followers established a camp. The chapel where they buried him is decorated with some of the richest Coptic art in the world.
Monastery of St. Paul (Red Sea): explore the desert; experience life in oases, and head for the hills to explore the spectacular cave built Monastery of Saint Paul. A high-walled compound, fortified against attacks by local Bedouins that is still a functioning monastery not far from the Monastery of St. Anthony.
Monastery of St. Simeon (Aswan): This monastery is still massive and imposing despite having been abandoned for centuries. It stands like an abandoned fortress on the edge of the desert on the west bank of the Nile at Aswan.
St. Catherine’s Monastery (Sinai): The oldest continually working Christian monastery in the world, St. Catherine’s is uniquely steeped in tradition. It stands at the foot of Mount Horeb where, the Old Testament records, Moses received the Tablets of the Law.
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