Kelya - Hermitages and Monasteries

Scattered about in the desert some 30mi/50km northwest of the Wadi Natrun, on the road to the City of St Menas, are about 700 hermitages and monasteries of the fifth-seventh C., abandoned at various times down to the 15th C. and now covered by sand. The area, known as Kelya (from Latin cella, "cell"), was rediscovered and partly excavated in 1964 during the construction of irrigation works. Of particular interest are the ruins of a seventh C. monastery with fine frescos.