Spiritual Destinations - Delve into the Big Book of Religions

Egypt is a major destination for religious tourism. The population has been predominantly Muslim since the 12th to 13th centuries, though 10 % of the population is Coptic Christian. Although the ancient religion of the pharaohs, worshipping the God Ra or the conflict between Amon and Aton, will always be part of Egyptian mythology, the land of Egypt has many links with the great monotheist religions of today.

In Sinai, Mount Moses and St Katherine’s monastery are just as important as tourist attractions of ‘natural beauty’ as they are mystical pilgrimage destinations evocative of bible stories. The Coptics, Egyptian Christians, have kept their faith since the Roman domination and the reign of Constantine (4th century). Ancient religious monuments have been preserved in the heart of Old Cairo and on the island of Roda. There are also many desert monasteries commemorating the retreat of the Holy Family after the birth of Jesus, from Rafah to Assiut.

The Moslems, following their conquest of Egypt in Minarets641 A.D., constructed great places of worship, particularly during the Mamelouk period (1250/1517 A.D.). Most mosques are open to all visitors.

The great monuments
• Mosques: the most famous, El-Azhar (970 A.D.), stands in the centre of Cairo, the city of a thousand minarets. Worth looking at while strolling around Cairo’s Muslim quarter, in the area of the medieval Khan el-Khalili market: the El Gouri complex, the el-Ashraf Barsbay mosque, the Sayyidna el-Hussein mosque, the al-Saleh Talai mosque, the el-Aqmar mosque, the Ibn Toulon Mosque, the Sultan
Hassan mosque… The show by the Soufi Dervishes (at the El-Gouri complex), the Mohamed Ali mosque.
• Coptic churches, monasteries and places of worship: Old Cairo’s churches (St George’s church and convent, St Sergius’ and St Barbara’s churches, the "hanging" church…), the Coptic museum. In the Eastern desert, St Anthony’s, St Bishoi’s, St Katherine’s monasteries in Sinai, the Aswan cathedral, Maadi and Gabal El-Teir churches etc., as well as many springs, wells, "sacred" trees such as Al Abed "the worshipper", at Nazlet Ebeid-Minia.
• Ben Ezra synagogue in Cairo, (in the Coptic quarter).

Visiting
Outside the hours of prayer and the Friday prayers, most mosques can be visited for free (9:00 am-7:00 pm). A small tip should be given to the person who looks after visitors' shoes and lends them head scarves.