Destinations

St. Katherine's & Mount Sinai

At the heart of the peninsula is Mount Sinai, where the Ten Commandments were revealed to Moses. The mountain also overlooks the valley where Moses saw the Burning Bush. And it was on this site that the Byzantine Empress Helena founded a monastery in 337 AD. The monastery was fortified against raiders, and dwindling numbers of monks received a boost when the remains of St Katherine, an early Christian martyr, were found at the summit of Egypt's highest mountain nearby.

Today the monastery is open to visitors who can admire the 6th C. Church of St Katherine, the medieval monks' quarters (still used) and a 'descendant' of the Burning Bush. The dramatic location and preserved historical state of the monastery makes for an inspiring visit. It is best to spend a night here: this allows time to climb Mt Sinai, to see the dawn and to make the most of the short visiting hours at the monastery.