Top 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Egypt

While Egypt is regarded as the primary political and cultural center of the Middle East and all of the Arab World, it is also a place that carries so much beauty and mystery that it draws the curiosity of tourists from all over the world. Those who go to Egypt find themselves mesmerized by the magnificent structures and monuments, scattered all throughout the country.

Here are the Top Five Egyptian UNESCO World Heritage Sites worth remembering.

Ancient Thebes and the Necropolis

Somewhere 800 km south of the Mediterranean and east of the Nile River are the necropolises of both the Valley of Kings and Valley of Queens, as well as the temples and palaces within Karnak and Luxor. Thebes was once known as the god Amon’s city, and used to be Egypt’s capital during the time of the Middle and New Kingdoms.

Because of its significance as evidence of the height of the ancient Egyptian civilization, Ancient Thebes and its Necropolises became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

Islamic Cairo

This is one of the oldest Islamic cities in the world, found within Central Cairo and overlooked by the castle. Here you can find famous mosques, madrasas, hammams, and beautiful fountains. It’s been around for quite some time, getting into the golden age in the 14th century.

Islamic Cairo remains to be one of the most popular Islamic destinations to tourists all over the world. Because of its historical importance, it became part of the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979.

Memphis and the Necropolis

Nobody who has heard of Egypt hasn’t heard of the Pyramid Fields, stretching out from Giza to Dahshur. These pyramids are, in fact, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. But it’s also the capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. The place has magnificent funerary monuments, rock tombs, temples, and yes, pyramids.

No question that these magnificent structures have historical and cultural significance not only to Egypt but the world as well, so it eventually became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

Nubian Monuments

South of Egypt and West of Lake Nasser are the famous Nubian Monuments, including the Temple of Ramses the II in Abu Simbel and the Isis Sanctuary in Philae. These places were once under the threat of the rising waters from the Nile River, but has been saved thanks to UNESCO’s campaign to rescue it back in 1960 to 1980.

These structures have been collectively designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, dubbed the “Nubian Monuments” in 1979.

Saint Catherine Area

There is a gorge at the foot of Mount Sinai that’s a bit out of way for most travelers where the one of the world’s oldest Christian monasteries are found.

The Orthodox Monastery, as it is known, happens to be situated at the foot of Mt. Horeb, the very place where, according to the Old Testament, Moses found the Tablets of the ten Commandments. Being sacred to Christians, Muslims, and Jews alike, the Saint Catherine Area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.