Saint Catherine Monastery, Byzantine monastery at Mount Sinai, Egypt
Saint Catherine Monastery contains thick defensive walls, a central church with a dome, and numerous chapels spread across its fortified grounds at 1570 meters elevation.
Emperor Justinian I established this religious complex in 548 CE to protect Christian pilgrims visiting the sacred site of the biblical burning bush.
The monastery library holds over 3000 ancient manuscripts, including the Codex Sinaiticus, making it second only to the Vatican collection in religious texts.
Visitors can access the monastery daily from 9:00 AM through organized tours departing from Sharm el Sheikh, with a journey time of approximately 2.5 hours.
The monastery maintains the oldest continuously operating library in existence, featuring texts in Greek, Arabic, Syriac, Georgian, and Slavonic languages.
Location: South Sinai Governorate
Inception: 548
Founders: Justinian I
Architectural style: Byzantine architecture
Elevation above the sea: 1,570 m
Part of: Saint Catherine Area
Address: HX4G+9CF, Saint Catherine, South Sinai Governorate 8730070, Egypt 8730070
Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday 09:00-23:30; Saturday 09:00-23:30
Phone: +20693470353
Website: http://sinaimonastery.com
GPS coordinates: 28.55583,33.97556
Latest update: December 2, 2025 14:06
European religious architecture spans over a thousand years, from the Middle Ages to the present day. This collection includes monasteries and buildings constructed in a variety of styles, from Romanesque to Gothic, Baroque to Rococo, and innovative modern designs still under development. Some are situated in notable locations: Mont-Saint-Michel rises on its rocky islet surrounded by tides, Meteora monasteries overlook the Thessalian plain from their sandstone pinnacles, while Kylemore Abbey reflects in the waters of Connemara. Many of these sites retain their original religious purpose. Monks still inhabit Sainte-Catherine in Sinai, Rila in Bulgaria, and Kylemore in Ireland. Others, like San Galgano in Tuscany, have lost their roofs and inhabitants but still bear witness to the scale of medieval constructions. Visitors can explore Wiblingen's baroque libraries, walk through the underground tunnels of Petchersk Lavra, or admire the royal tombs at Alcobaça Monastery. Each structure tells a part of the continent's religious and architectural history.
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