Discover the Coptic sites of Egypt

Egypt is nearly always associated with its ancient constructions and rightly so; there’s no denying that the Giza Necropolis or the Temple of Luxor should be on your must-see list. But a large proportion of the country’s historic buildings are actually Coptic, the term given to those of Christian faith in Egypt. From mountain-side monasteries to grand stone churches, these are some of the Coptic sites worth making time for on your trip to Egypt.

Cairo is a great place to begin a tour of Coptic Egypt, as the Coptic Museum reveals a wealth of treasures from Christian sites built as early as the 2nd century AD. The museum is housed in the crumbling city walls of the old Babylon Fort, along with several examples of Coptic churches such as St. Barbara and the so-called ‘Hanging Church’, located above the southern gate.

Alexandria is more often recognized for the achievements of Greco-Roman Egypt, with its amphitheatre, Pompey’s pillar and the iconic library. However, it is also a place of significance to the Coptic Christians, with the beautiful cathedral of St Mark in the city and nearby pilgrimage centres of Abu Mina and Menouthis. A fascinating site of ruined basilicas, crypts and domestic buildings, Abu Mina has been granted World Heritage Status.

Undoubtedly the highlight of Christian Egypt is the Monastery of St. Catherine on the western Sinai Peninsula. Making the climb up Mount Sinai has long been a sacred journey for Christians, as the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. A dawn hike to where the building perches high above the desert is breath-taking for visitors of all faiths.

There are several biblical routes you can take around Egypt, either by hiring your own transport, travelling in a group, or even by doing some exploration of the sites reached by your cruise. Most organised tours start out from the capital Cairo, and follow themes such as the Holy Family’s journey from Bethlehem, or placing the emergence of Coptic Christianity in a historical context. With around 10% of the local population following the Coptic faith today, these sites remain a significant part of this multi-cultural country.