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Pharaoh's Island
Pharaoh's Island : One of Taba's main attractions, Pharaoh's Island, is simply breathtaking. The small island, surrounded by outstanding blue and turquoise waters of the Red Sea, was once a Phoenician port, later occupied by Crusaders and then taken under control by Sultan Salah El Din. The island and the castle remain intact. The reef around the island is popular with snorkellers and divers alike.
Pharaoh's Island, also called Coral Island or Geziret Faroun, lies eight kilometers south of Taba and 250 meters off the coast.
The Phoenicians were the first to make use of this island's fine natural harbor during the 10th century BC to foster trade with Egypt. Much later the small rocky island came under Byzantine control.
Early in the 12th century the Crusaders built a fortress there to protect pilgrims traveling between Jerusalem and the Monastery of St Katherine and to harass Arab trade. Sultan Salah El Din (Saladin) evicted the Crusaders from the island and significantly strengthened the fortress later in the 12th century. The Mamelukes and Ottomans probably further fortified it when they became the dominant force of the region.
Today you can follow in the footsteps of the legendary Lawrence of Arabia and explore the fully renovated fortress of medieval character with its towers, arched doorways, sleeping quarters, baths and kitchens
Mount Sinai,just south of the Monastery of St Katherine, is of great religious importance to Jews, Christians and Muslims. According to the Old Testament this is where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
Throughout the centuries the mountain has drawn thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. You can ascend to the summit (2285 m, 7497 ft) to experience the ultimate spiritual high; either by climbing some 4000 steps built by monks or by following an easier but longer path. Both lead to an open area known as Elija's Basin where you walk up the remaining 750 steps to the top.
At the summit you will find the Chapel of the Holy Trinity that was built in 1934 on the site of a much earlier chapel built in 363 AD. The climb takes about three hours but the view from the top is truly breathtaking, especially at sunrise.
The Monastery of St. Katherine lies at the foot of Gebel Musa, or Mount Moses, in the heart of the South Sinai. In 330 AD the mother of Emperor Constantine, Empress Helena, ordered the construction of a small church by Moses' Burning Bush. It was called the Church of the Transfiguration. The fortified monastery we see today was built around this church during the reign of Emperor Justinian (527-565 AD).
In the 11th century the monastery was dedicated to St. Katherine of Alexandria, who had died in 310 AD. Her remains, reportedly found by monks on a mountain peak next to Mt Sinai, are buried in the monastery's Basilica.
Fronted by gardens and cypress trees, the monastery is owned and run by the Greek Orthodox Church. Its rich library houses the world's second largest collection of illuminated manuscripts after the Vatican. You can see the Burning Bush and a large number of antique works of art: invaluable icons, beautifully carved doors, exquisite wall paintings and other fine religious ornaments.
Taba Tourism: Pharaoh's Island » The Museum at St Katherine Monastery » Ein Kid » The Blue Desert » Coloured Canyon » Abu Galum Protected Area » Ein Khadra
Places to see in Egypt
» Cairo & Giza
» Alexandria
» Sharm El Sheikh
» Hurghada
» Nuwebie
» Saint Catherine
» El Arish
» Safaga
» Mersa Alam
» Ras Sedr
» Sinai
» Luxor
» Aswan
» Mersa Matrouh
» Oases
» El Ain El Sukhna
» Dahab
» Taba
» The Red Sea
» Sahl Hasheesh
» Port Said
» Rasheed
» Siwa
» The New Valley
Pharaoh's Island, also called Coral Island or Geziret Faroun, lies eight kilometers south of Taba and 250 meters off the coast.
The Phoenicians were the first to make use of this island's fine natural harbor during the 10th century BC to foster trade with Egypt. Much later the small rocky island came under Byzantine control.
Early in the 12th century the Crusaders built a fortress there to protect pilgrims traveling between Jerusalem and the Monastery of St Katherine and to harass Arab trade. Sultan Salah El Din (Saladin) evicted the Crusaders from the island and significantly strengthened the fortress later in the 12th century. The Mamelukes and Ottomans probably further fortified it when they became the dominant force of the region.
Today you can follow in the footsteps of the legendary Lawrence of Arabia and explore the fully renovated fortress of medieval character with its towers, arched doorways, sleeping quarters, baths and kitchens
Mount Sinai,just south of the Monastery of St Katherine, is of great religious importance to Jews, Christians and Muslims. According to the Old Testament this is where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
Throughout the centuries the mountain has drawn thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. You can ascend to the summit (2285 m, 7497 ft) to experience the ultimate spiritual high; either by climbing some 4000 steps built by monks or by following an easier but longer path. Both lead to an open area known as Elija's Basin where you walk up the remaining 750 steps to the top.
At the summit you will find the Chapel of the Holy Trinity that was built in 1934 on the site of a much earlier chapel built in 363 AD. The climb takes about three hours but the view from the top is truly breathtaking, especially at sunrise.
The Monastery of St. Katherine lies at the foot of Gebel Musa, or Mount Moses, in the heart of the South Sinai. In 330 AD the mother of Emperor Constantine, Empress Helena, ordered the construction of a small church by Moses' Burning Bush. It was called the Church of the Transfiguration. The fortified monastery we see today was built around this church during the reign of Emperor Justinian (527-565 AD).
In the 11th century the monastery was dedicated to St. Katherine of Alexandria, who had died in 310 AD. Her remains, reportedly found by monks on a mountain peak next to Mt Sinai, are buried in the monastery's Basilica.
Fronted by gardens and cypress trees, the monastery is owned and run by the Greek Orthodox Church. Its rich library houses the world's second largest collection of illuminated manuscripts after the Vatican. You can see the Burning Bush and a large number of antique works of art: invaluable icons, beautifully carved doors, exquisite wall paintings and other fine religious ornaments.
Taba Tourism: Pharaoh's Island » The Museum at St Katherine Monastery » Ein Kid » The Blue Desert » Coloured Canyon » Abu Galum Protected Area » Ein Khadra
Places to see in Egypt
| » Cairo & Giza » Alexandria » Sharm El Sheikh » Hurghada » Nuwebie » Saint Catherine » El Arish » Safaga » Mersa Alam |
» Ras Sedr » Sinai » Luxor » Aswan » Mersa Matrouh » Oases » El Ain El Sukhna » Dahab » Taba |
» The Red Sea » Sahl Hasheesh » Port Said » Rasheed » Siwa » The New Valley |