Discover Egypt
Travel Talk with Ed Finn in Association with Destination Cleveland
Saturday, 13 January 2024 - 9 minutes
DISCOVERING ANCIENT EGYPT WITH SEVEN UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES
On Travel Talk today Ed chat's with Robbie about the amazing variety of holidays available to Egypt. EgyptAir flies direct 4 times a week rom Dublin to Cairo. Egypt is home to seven spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites, where visitors can immerse themselves in ancient cultural legacy protected throughout the ages. Each location has several important structures and features to discover, guaranteeing a breathtaking experience and memories to cherish for a lifetime
Historic Cairo
Founded in the 10th century and flanked by the modern architecture of contemporary Cairo, this ancient Islamic city is brimming with stunning mosques, madrasas (Islam-centered schools), hammams (baths), and fountains. It also includes an array of houses and wekalas.
Ancient Thebes and Its Necropolis
Once the capital of Egypt during the Middle and New Kingdoms, the ancient city of Thebes—now called Luxor—includes the temples of Karnak and Luxor and the royal temples on the west bank, along with the different necropolises, the most famous of which is the Valley of the Kings with the Tomb of Tutankhamun. Don’t miss the Valley of the Queens, especially the stunning Tomb of Nefertari, as well as the Tombs of the Nobles, and the ancient Egyptian workmen's village, Deir al-Medina.
Memphis and Its Necropolis
Located south of the modern heart of Cairo, the ancient capital of Memphis was the longest active capital in ancient Egypt. Its strategic location enabled it to keep its role throughout history. The most visible remains of the town are its necropolises, which encompass the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara Pyramids, and Dahshur Pyramids, as well as many private tombs in rectangular superstructures called mastaba. Let’s not forget the Sphinx that overlooks and guards the area.
Nubian Monuments from Philae to Abu Simbel
Nubia, located in the south of Egypt, contains ancient archeological sites with magnificent monuments, such as the Temple of Isis at Philae and the colossal rock-cut Temple of Rameses II at Abu Simbel.
Abu Mina
Built over the tomb of the martyr Menas of Alexandria, this archeological site is home to a church, a baptistry, basilicas, public buildings, streets, monasteries, houses, and workshops that have remained visible since their foundation in the 4th century.
Saint Catherine
This area has been a natural protectorate since 1996, and it is considered a holy site to the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Its famous monastery, the Orthodox Monastery of St. Catherine, is situated midway to the summit of Mount Sinai. It is considered the oldest active Christian monasteries in the world.
Wadi al-Hitan (Whale Valley)
Located in the Western Desert of Egypt, Wadi al-Hitan is a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the well-preserved fossils of an extinct suborder of whales, the archaeoceti. These fossils corroborate the theory that whales evolved from land mammals to sea mammals
Egyptair flies 4 times a week from Dublin to Cairo with fares from €475 return - Check out - www.egyptair.com
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