Embark on a fascinating visit to the Cave Church & Monastery of Saint Simon in Garbage City, Coptic Cairo. Explore the unique history and stunning architecture of this hidden gem.
Embark on a fascinating visit to the Cave Church & Monastery of Saint Simon in Garbage City, Coptic Cairo. Explore the unique history and stunning architecture of this hidden gem.
Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus - This church is dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus, soldier-saints who were martyred in the 4th century in Syria by Roman Emperor Maximina. A notable feature is the crypt where Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus are believed to have rested. The crypt is 10 meters deep and often floods when the Nile’s water levels are…
Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus - This church is dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus, soldier-saints who were martyred in the 4th century in Syria by Roman Emperor Maximina. A notable feature is the crypt where Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus are believed to have rested. The crypt is 10 meters deep and often floods when the Nile’s water levels are high.
Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, Sitt Mariam, St Mary) - Named for its position above a gatehouse of the Babylon Fortress in Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo), the Hanging Church’s nave is suspended over a passage. It is accessed by twenty-nine steps, leading early travelers to call it the “Staircase Church.” The land has risen by about six meters since the Roman era, so the Roman tower is mostly buried, diminishing the church’s elevated appearance.
Synagogue Ben Ezra - The Ben Ezra Synagogue (Hebrew: בית כנסת בן עזרא; Arabic: معبد بن عزرا), also known as the El-Geniza Synagogue (בית כנסת אל גניזה) or the Synagogue of the Levantines (al-Shamiyin), is located in the Fustat area of Old Cairo, Egypt. According to local legend, it stands on the site where baby Moses was discovered.
St Simon the Tanner Monastery - Large Christian communities are rare in predominantly Muslim Egypt. One of the larger groups is the garbage-collecting Zabbaleen, who have maintained their Coptic faith and built the largest Christian church in the Middle East at the Monastery of Saint Simon.
- Private transportation
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Qualified Egyptologist guide
- Private transportation
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Qualified Egyptologist guide
- Gratuities
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Lunch
In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel in Cairo to tour the Saint Simon Monastery, also referred to as the Zabbaleen’s Cave Church. Nestled in the Mokattam Mountain, it’s a brief drive through the so-called ‘Garbage City’, a place where a large number of Zabbaleen or garbage collectors reside. Numerous churches have been established…
In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel in Cairo to tour the Saint Simon Monastery, also referred to as the Zabbaleen’s Cave Church. Nestled in the Mokattam Mountain, it’s a brief drive through the so-called ‘Garbage City’, a place where a large number of Zabbaleen or garbage collectors reside. Numerous churches have been established within the caves of Mokattam. We will first visit the Saint Simon the Tanner Hall and St. Mark’s Church.
This extensive cave was unearthed in 1974, filled with tons of stones reaching up to the cave’s ceiling, which is 17 meters above ground. It was subsequently transformed to accommodate two levels: 1. The upper level is the St. Simon the Tanner Hall, having a seating capacity of 2000 people for religious gatherings. The walls are adorned with numerous remarkable rock-engraved pictures illustrating scenarios from the Bible
Then, we proceed to tour the Cathedral of Virgin Mary and St. Simon the Tanner. Following the tour, you will be transported back to your hotel.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.