Al Minya is one of the most important governorates of the upper of Egypt as its location between northern and southern Egypt. As well, it houses many historical sites and destinations dating back to different historical times.

During the ancient Egyptian history This city was once one of the great capitals of ancient Egypt. Also, it houses three of the most famous historical sites in Egypt. These sites are Beni Hassan, Tell El-Amarna, and Tuna El-Gebel.

• Beni Hassan was a necropolis during the middle kingdom in ancient Egyptian civilization, as local rulers and military ‎leaders built their tombs there. It houses approx. 39 carved tombs in a limestone hill. These tombs reflect the power of the high officials at that time.
• Tell El-Amarna: It is also called Akhetaten. It was the capital of ancient Egypt during king Akhenaten or Amenhotep IV period in the eighteenth dynasty, the New Kingdom. Also, it was the center for worshipping the god Aten.
• Tuna El-Gebel was a necropolis during the Greco-Roman period. The ancient Egyptians considered it the center of worshiping the god Thoth or Djhuty, the god of wisdom and knowledge in ancient Egyptian civilization.

The significance of Al Minya during the Coptic period It was one of the stages of the Holy Family during their holy journey in Egypt.

The significance of Al Minya during the Islamic period Al Minya is proud that a number of companions of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) visited it and were buried there, as Khaled Ibn El Walid. As well, it was the home of one of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) wives, who Marya the Copt.

Museums of Al Minya city

• Mallawi Museum: It opened for the first time on July 23, 1962, but it was closed after being vandalized in August 2013. Then it reopened in September 2016 after restoration for the building and collections. The museum displays the history of Al Minya through different historical periods.
• Akhenaton Museum: when the Akhenaton Museum will be opened, it will be the largest in Upper Egypt. The concept of this museum will expose the religious thought of King Akhenaten and the reunification period.

Aswan is one of the Egyptian cities in the upper of Egypt. It is located in the north of Nasser Lake. Aswan city distinguishes with its natural beauty, as it has the most beautiful views of the Nile River in Egypt ever. In addition, it houses unparalleled monuments dating back to several historical times as ancient Egyptian history, the Greco-Roman period, the Christian period, the Islamic period, and modern history. So it is considered an attractive tourist destination in Egypt.

Aswan city consist of 5 islands are Philea or Elephantine, Seheil, Agilkia, Bigeh, Kitchener’s islands.

The meaning of Aswan: Aswan is derived from the ancient word swan, meaning the market, as this city is located in an important commercial site linking Egypt and the southern lands.

The history of Aswan city: During ancient Egyptian history, Aswan houses several quarries for different types of rocks as granite, sandstone, and quartzite. These quarries were used by the ancient Egyptians to establish their temples and buildings. Also, it was the starting point of the military and commercial campaigns to the south to African countries.

During ancient times, Aswan was the center for many gods of ancient Egyptian beliefs, as the god Khnum, the god of the source of the Nile, and the goddess Isis.

One of the great historical events occurring in Aswan was the project of UNESCO for saving the Nubian monuments after the building of the High Dam.

The monuments of Aswan:

Aswan contains monuments dating back to several historical times, as:
• The monuments dating back to ancient Egyptian history are the Unfinished Obelisk and Abu Simbel Temples
• The monuments dating back to the Greco-Roman period are Philae Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, and Temple Of Edfu
• The monuments dating back to modern history are the High Dam, Nasser Lake, Mausoleum of the Aga Khan, the Nubian Museum, Botanical Garden, and The Nubian Village.

Deir El Medina is one of the most famous sightseeing on the west bank of Luxor city, as it is a city for the locals located inside a royal site. Here, you will see another kind of tombs; they are not royal tombs but belong to ordinary citizens who built the royal tombs.

The history of Deir el-Medina Bernard Bruyère discovered this site in the 90s, after the discovery of Howard Carter to the tomb of Tutankhamun, Bernard Bruyère considered this is a unique discovery, as there were many of ostraca are discovered on this site. These ostraca documented the lifestyle and community of ancient Egypt meticulously, as they refer to the Women’s lifestyle, the Law, and the medical care in this community.

This place was the village where the ancient Egyptian workers and artisans of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties of the New Kingdom were lived. Those workers and artisans worked in the Valley of Kings and the Valley of Queens, as they carved the tombs, which dazzle the whole world, in the mountain and decorated them.

Perhaps, the Egyptian authorities ordered to establish this city apart to keep what was happening inside the Valley of Kings and the Valley of Queens secret for avoiding being stolen.

It is believed that the first usage of Deir el-Medina was during King Thutmose I reign, while it was abandoned during the Ramesside Period.

The city housed approx. 70 families and sixty-eight houses varying in their size. The style of these houses was the same, as the walls were made of mud brick. Houses consisted of four to five rooms, comprising an entrance, main room, two smaller rooms, kitchen with cellar, and staircase leading to the roof.

Also, this place contains the tombs of those workmen. These tombs appear in one room decorated with reliefs depicting the owner of this tomb with his family and during his journey to the other world.  You can imagine how amazing the decorations of these tombs are, as it was ornamented by the artisans who decorated the wonderful tombs in Valley of the Kings. For example, these tombs are Inerkhau and Sennedjem tombs.

The names of Deir el-Medina The ancient Egyptian name of this site was (Set maat), which means the place of truth. Also, the habitants were named servants in the place of truth. Deir el-Medina, the most famous name for this site now, is an Arabic word meaning the monastery of the city, as there was a temple for goddess Hathor beside the city. This temple was built during the Ptolemaic period, but it is changed to be a Christian monastery.

Luxor city is the most famous city in Egypt and the whole world housing destinations and attracting tourists, as it is considered the world’s greatest open-air museum because it contains two-thirds of the landmarks of the world. It contains sightseeing dating back to ancient Egyptian history, the Greco-Roman period, the Christian period, and the Islamic period.

Luxor city is also known as the city of a Hundred Gates because it contains several gates of temples. These temples are like Luxor Temple and Karnak Complex.

The Nile River divides Luxor city into two parts, the east bank of Luxor, containing the temples of gods, and the west bank of Luxor that houses the mortuary temples and tombs of kings.

In Luxor, you will be able to see the mummy of King Tut, the temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, the Valley of Kings, the Valley of Queens, Colossi of Memnon, Habu Temple, the avenue of Sphinxes, and the Luxor Museum.

The ancient history of Luxor city Luxor is the modern city, where the ancient Egyptian city, Thebes or Waset in the ancient Egyptian language. Thebes was the capital of ancient Egypt twice; the first time was during the 11th dynasty, the Middle Kingdom, while the second time was during the New kingdom.

From Thebes city, kings who reunified ancient Egypt after the First Intermediate Period hailed from, king Thutmose III went out on his campaigns, and Queen Hatshepsut planned her expedition to Punt Land.

After the New Kingdom, the significance of Thebes city remained as a religious capital of ancient Egypt, as its triad was (the god Amun Ra, the goddess Mut, and their son Khonsu).

This city is called Luxor, as when the Arabs entered this city, they thought that the remains of its temples are palaces, so they called it Luxor or al-uqsur.  Luxor or al-uqsur is the plural form of the Arabic word meaning the palace.

Egypt distinguishes with housing six oases located in its western desert. These oases are EL Fayoum Oasis, Bahariya Oasis, Farafra Oasis, Kharga Oasis, Dakhla Oasis, and Siwa Oasis. All of these oases characterize by having a unique history and natural and charming beauty.

Siwa Oasis Siwa oasis is described as a green space sitting among a huge ocean of yellow sand, as it distinguishes with its breathtaking sceneries. It is located on the west of Egypt, on the Egyptian-Libyan border.

Generally, Siwa has a good climate throughout the year, but it is better to be visited from October to April to avoid the heat of the summer.

Siwa has its own style, as when you visit it, you will be able to recognize the ancient history, enjoy breathtaking sceneries, and do healing activities.

The attractions of Siwa Oasis

1 – The Temple of the Oracle The Temple of the Oracle is one of the most famous landmarks in Siwa oasis in ancient history and nowadays. It was built during the 26th dynasty by King Ahmose II. The most famous event associated with the Temple of Oracle is the visit of Alexander the Great to the temple for asking the oracle of Amun god about his fate and who is his father?

2 – Mountain of the Dead The Mountain of the Dead is a rocky hill housing more than 1500 tombs dating back to the late period of the ancient Egyptian civilization and the Greco-Roman period.

3 – Shali Village Shali is a Siwi word meaning city. Shali village is famous for its own style of construction, as their houses were built from clay saturated with salt, which when drying up, becomes similar to cement in its hardness.

When you visit Shali village, you will enjoy climbing up its hills, where you will be able to see a fabulous view of palm trees, as Shali contains dates and olives groves.

4 – Spring of Cleopatra Cleopatra’s spring is a natural pool the locals and tourists swimming in it for its healing benefits.

5 – Fatnas Island Fatnas Island, as Cleopatra’s spring, distinguishes with its hot springs, where you will be able to swim to enjoy its healing benefits.

6 – Siwa House Museum Siwa House Museum displays the traditions and customs of the Siwan, for example, the museum exhibits their traditions at the wedding, as you will be able to see the wore of the bride.

7 – Dakrour Mountain Additionally, Siwa Oasis is famous for therapeutic tourism, whereas it has Dakrour Mountain or Gebel Dakrur, containing hot sulfurous wells for curing a lot of diseases such as arthritis, back pain, spinal pain, and rheumatism.

There is a tourist festival occurring every October or November in Gebel Dakrour. It takes three days. In this festival, Siwan are celebrating with the harvest, their friendships, and settle quarrels.

The community of Siwa Oasis The community of Siwa distinguishes having its own cultures till now, as the local inhabitants of Siwa have their own language, looking like the Berber language.