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, guests will be picked up from their hotel in Cairo to visit the Monastery of Saint Simon, also known as the Cave Church of Zabbaleen. This site is situated in the Mokattam Mountain, a short drive through the area known as “Garbage City,” home to a large community of garbage collectors, or Zabbaleen. Several churches have been constructed…
In the morning, guests will be picked up from their hotel in Cairo to visit the Monastery of Saint Simon, also known as the Cave Church of Zabbaleen. This site is situated in the Mokattam Mountain, a short drive through the area known as “Garbage City,” home to a large community of garbage collectors, or Zabbaleen. Several churches have been constructed within the caves of Mokattam. The first stop is Saint Simon the Tanner Hall and St. Mark’s Church.
This vast cave was discovered in 1974. It was filled with hundreds of tons of stones, reaching up to the 17-meter-high ceiling, and was later developed to include two levels: 1. The upper level is the St. Simon the Tanner Hall, which can accommodate 2,000 people for spiritual gatherings. The walls are adorned with beautiful engravings on the rocks depicting scenes from the Bible.
The tour continues with a visit to the Cathedral of Virgin Mary and St. Simon the Tanner. After the tour, guests will be transferred back to their 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.
