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- Weather: 15 ℃ / 60 ℉
Saint Catherine City combines historical, religious, and cultural heritage with breathtaking natural beauty, attracting visitors interested in its multifaceted significance. It offers modern facilities, various accommodation options, and organized tours for a memorable experience.
| Overview | |
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| Location | South Sinai Governorate, Egypt |
| Climate | Hot Summers, Cool Winters |
| Geography | Atop Mount Sinai |
| Significance | Biblical Events |
| Population | Around 20,000 Residents |
Saint Catherine City is a magical gem located on a mountaintop under the shadow of the holy giant rocky pillars of Sinai. The goal of this marvelous article is to offer every traveler all the information and facts about the divine Saint Catherine City. This article was written by a group of very knowledgeable and skilled tour operators, tour guides, and travel consultants who know all the information surrounding Saint Catherine City.
It is one of the only remaining active worship sites since biblical times. Many travelers from all over the world come to witness the beautiful sun rays reflecting through the top of the city in a heavenly fashion and explore the finest examples of biblical wonders between the gates of the immortal monastery of Saint Catherine city in the same site where it is believed Moses talked to God and received the ten commandments.
The history of Saint Catherine city goes back to the times of the 16th century BC, and even during the early days of the ancient Egyptian kingdom; the city of Saint Catherine was part of an ancient Egyptian province known as "Deshret Reithu."
It was an important province to the Egyptian empire in the new Kingdom of ancient Egypt (1550 - 1070 BC), providing turquoise, copper, and gold as shown by the well-preserved remains of mines and temples, one of which is dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of love and beauty. The Saint Catherine Monastery was constructed during the Roman and Byzantine eras between 527 and 565 BC. It became one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Egypt due to its natural and cultural importance.
Saint Catherine has an area of 2,271 sq mi (5,883 km2), which is found in the south Sinia governorate at the foot of the Sinia high mountain known as the roof of Egypt, which is 120 kilometers (75 mi) from Nuweiba and is 1,586 meters (5,203 ft) above sea level. Everyone can get to the marvelous city of Saint Catherine by booking a travel agency that will provide all the means of a state-of-the-art vehicle with a skilled driver and a seasoned tour guide.
Saint Catherine generally experiences a desert climate, which possesses summers that are typically hot, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C (104°F) during the day and cooling down in the evenings. Winters are cooler, containing daytime temperatures averaging around 15-20°C (59-68°F) but dropping significantly at night, which becomes sometimes close to freezing or below.
Rainfall in this region is minimal, with most of it occurring sporadically in winter. It's known for its dry and arid conditions, especially in the summer, making it a popular destination for those looking to visit the historic Saint Catherine's Monastery or climb Mount Sinai.
The city of Saint Catherine is located on the edges of the El Tur Mountains at the altitude of 1,586 m (5,203 ft), at the footing of Mount Sinia and Saint Catherine's Monastery, which is known as "The Roof of Egypt", 120 kilometers (75 mi) away from Nuweiba.
Take a trip to Mount Sinai & St. Catherine Monastery from Cairo and immerse yourself in ancient history and tranquility.
Read MoreThe city is surrounded by the highest mountain ranges in Egypt and has a current population of close to 20,000 people. It has very low humidity and the coldest nights in all of Egypt during winter due to the high altitude, but it also offers a delightful, pleasant climate during the summer, enchanting spring, and cool winter. The geographical attributes of Saint Catherine render it one of the preeminent places for Safari tours in Egypt.
Saint Catherine City is a place of holy importance to the world's three major Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is where Moses is believed to have been given the Ten Commandments from the all-mighty, where early Christianity flourished, and the Orthodox monastic traditions still exist.
It is a place that the prophet Mohammed put under his protection. Many events recorded in the Holy Bible & Quran took place in the area, with hundreds of places of religious importance in the city. The city holds two ancient churches, the Monastery of St Katherine and the Rock of Moses.
The unique blend of agricultural prowess, architectural ingenuity, and cultural practices marks the distinctive lifestyle of the Jebeliya Bedouin, which is deeply intertwined with the landscape and the monastery, thus fostering a rich and resilient community. The culture of the city is highly diverse, with deep ancient roots that were planted by the Jebeliya Bedouin, who came from southeastern Europe in the 6th century AD and migrated and settled in the area. They embrace Islam, which blends their culture with other nomadic tribes and preserves unique traditions.
Unlike many Bedouin groups, the Jebeliya are adept at agriculture, showcasing exceptional gardening skills in the wadis around Saint Catherine. Their bond with the local monastery led to collaboration, while many Bedouins worked alongside monks and worked on cultivating gardens and structures using techniques influenced by Byzantine methods. Their expertise lies in creating stone-walled gardens called Bustan or karm, employing grafting to enhance crop yields. Fruits like apples, pears, apricots, and grapes flourish due to the moderate climate, alongside medicinal herbs and wild plants.
They ingeniously use stone retaining walls and wells to harness water for irrigation, adapting to challenges like freezing wells in winter. They also utilize natural formations like boulders for houses and storage, even constructing shelters under rocks and caves across the mountainous terrain. Remnants of ancient leopard traps and symbolic engraved rocks tell stories of traditions while wishing rocks, a local legend, invite people to make wishes by balancing pebbles.
The city of Saint Catherine National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Egypt. It was established in 1988 and declared a UNESCO World Area due to its unique high-altitude ecosystem teeming with rare species like the world's smallest butterfly and Nubian ibex. It has a unique ecosystem containing biodiversity filled with rare plants and herbs, plus a number of wild animals like the Sinai agamas, rock hyraxes, and foxes. Preserving biodiversity focused on the Nubian ibex and medicinal plants. The protectorate once provided significant local employment but saw a decline after European Union support ended. The landscape boasts Egypt's highest peak, Mount Catherine, with other peaks over 2,000 meters.
Hiking trails like Wadi El Arbain and Wadi Shaq lead to stunning vistas that have views of Mount Sinai and, on clear days, even Sharm el Sheikh and the Red Sea. Other destinations like Jebel Abbas Basha and Jebel Sana are worth exploring, but reaching them may take several days. The site also played a part as a religious hub as it was picked to construct the Chapel of the Burning Bush "Saint Helen’s" Chapel after the mother of Constantine the Great in 330 AD. The Burning Bush is the bush plant through which Moses received a message from the all-mighty speaking through the flames. A mosque was built into the wall of the chapel in the Fatimid period during the 10th century.
Saint Catherine's significance lies in its religious, historical, and cultural heritage, as well as its breathtaking natural surroundings, thus making it a destination of interest for people from various walks of life. Saint Catherine is a city of multifaceted significance. It's home to Saint Catherine's Monastery, an ancient Christian site built around the 6th century at the foot of Mount Sinai, where the biblical Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments. This monastery holds profound religious importance for Christians globally.
The region has been a melting pot of civilizations of Christian, Islamic, and Jewish thus creating a rich environment of cultural heritage. This attracts historians, archaeologists, and tourists keen on exploring ancient civilizations. The monastery itself is a wonder that houses centuries-old religious art, manuscripts, and icons, offering a glimpse into the cultural and artistic traditions of the area. This makes it a vital center for preserving cultural heritage. Nature enthusiasts find Saint Catherine mesmerizing for its natural beauty. Mount Sinai and the surrounding mountains and desert offer stunning landscapes for hikers and pilgrims, making it one of the top hiking trails in Egypt, adding to the area's allure.
It is a special high-altitude Sahara with an ecosystem filled with various endemic and rare species; there are many rare types of medicinal plants that locals have used for countless ages. There are water pools, narrow canyons, springs, creeks, and wide valleys. There are many churches, monasteries, and holy sites in the area and beyond, apart from the religious sites located on top of Jebel Musa (Mt. Sina) and around the Monastery of St. Catherine.
One of the oldest continually functioning monastic communities in the world is Saint Catherine monastery. Read about Saint Catherine!
Read MoreThere are a lot of historical places dating back to the Pharaonic age, Nabatean, and Byzantine era, plus more modern sites like the Palace of Abbas Hilmi I. Pasha. The city contains a number of cultural and natural attractions like water pools, creeks, and barren mountain wadis, where a number of Bedouin gardens and buildings are located among magical rock formations and springs in the dry. From the highest mountains of Egypt, you have a heavenly path to the majestic Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Taba, El Tur, and the Gulf of Suez.
Saint Catherine City is a magnificent township that holds a number of vital facilities, including a hospital, police station, high school, hotels, telephone center, post office, fire brigade, and bank. The roots of the city go all the way back to the settlement of Wadi El Sybaiya, which is home to the ancient Roman soldier's descendants. With time, the city developed into a massive town after the creation of a massive road in the modern 80s, which transformed it into one of the enchanting tourist attractions of Egypt.
The city has expanded because the nomadic Bedouins have relocated to small settlements that surround the monastery, thus creating the town of Saint Catherine. The city has a number of key districts, which are Shamiya, Raha, El Milga, and Nabi Harun, which act as the town's core and are found at the convergence of various valleys. These valleys carry Wadi Quez, Wadi El Arbain, Wadi Shrayj, Wadi Raha, and Wadi El Dier, which are known to connect to the main valley of Wadi Sheikh, which houses settlements that predate the town itself.
Saint Catherine serves as the capital of the Municipality of Saint Katherine, encompassing these outlying areas. The monastery is found in Wadi el Deir, in the opposite direction of Wadi Raha, which sits within reach of Mount Sinai. Everyone can access Mount Sinai from the monastery or through Wadi El Arbain, which contains a number of epic landmarks like the Monastery of the Forty Martyrs and the Rock of Moses (Hagar Musa).
The magnificent city of Saint Catherine is a religious and historical marvel that is filled with a number of magical hotels that provide basic amenities that often cater to pilgrims and tourists visiting the nearby St. Catherine's Monastery. The most ideal hotels include:
The proximity of camping sites to the revered St. Catherine Monastery makes it renowned as one of the most famous camping destinations in Egypt. It is filled with a number of various Bedouin camps and settlements, which provide a magnificent traditional and rustic experience, thus providing accommodation in tents or simple lodgings. They often organize camel treks, hikes to Mount Sinai, and cultural experiences showcasing Bedouin traditions and rich culture. Some established tourist camps provide more comfortable accommodations than Bedouin camps.
These might include amenities like electricity, bathrooms, and dining facilities while still offering proximity to the natural beauty of the region. There are specific camps geared towards hikers and trekkers. These camps often serve as base camps for those ascending Mount Sinai or exploring the surrounding trails.
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Catherine of Alexandria dates back to the early 4th century and is one of the most famous early Christian martyrs and one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers which is a group of Roman Catholic saints respected for their power of intercession.
It is possible to climb mount Catherine which packs in 1,330 feet of elevation gain over 1.5 miles which will take about 5 hours.
Katherine of Sinia was a well-known Christian martyr and saint who was tortured to death in the 6th century for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.
Saint Catherine's Monastery, also known as the Sacred Monastery of the God-Trodden Mount Sinai, is situated at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt.
The monastery is believed to sit at the site where Moses is said to have encountered the burning bush and received the Ten Commandments. It's one of the oldest functioning Christian monasteries in the world, dating back to the 6th century. It's been an important center of religious and cultural activity for centuries. The monastery is sacred to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism as it houses a wealth of religious art, manuscripts, and ancient artifacts, including the well-known "Codex Sinaiticus," one of the oldest known complete manuscripts of the Christian Bible.
The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt.
If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa.
Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.
The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.
You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
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You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt.
Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.
The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.
There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt.
Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.
Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.
The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.
The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
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