Aswan Attractions

Ten minutes beyond the cliffs near the Monastery of St Simeon is a hill of darkcolored stone from which there is a superb view of the cataract area, extending north to the island of Bahrif.

From the Tomb of Sheikh Harun, on a hill in the desert to the southeast of the town, there is a fine view of the town. Farther southeast is the Iittle Fort Sidi Harun.

To the north of the town rises the Alabaster Hill, an ancient quarry of quartz from which the Egyptians obtained the material required for the polishing of hard stones.

In the desert to the south of Aswan are ancient Arab cemeteries. The graves are marked by rectangles of undressed stone and a slab bearing an inscription, those of wealthy people by small domed structures. On higher ground is a sheikh's tomb. On the surrounding hills large mosque like cenotaphs commemorate celebrated holy men and women such as Sheikh Mahmud, Sheikh Ali and the Lady (Sayyida) Zeinab, whose birthdays (mulis) are celebrated here.

From the station Sharia el-Suq runs south, parallel to the river, to the center of the town. In this street and the adjoining side streets is the Bazaar, a magnet for visitors with its many little shops and stalls and its colorful bustle of activity.

The path running from the Monastery of St Simeon down to the bank of the Nile runs past a large cemetery. On the river bank are many rock tombs.

From the railway station, at the north end of the town, a street leads west to the Corniche, a riverside promenade on which are the offices of the Governorate, several hotels and the Tourist Bazaar, with the Tourist Information Office.

On the opposite side of the river can be seen the Kubbet el Hawa, a sheikh's tomb, crowning a hill which contains rock tombs of the Old and Middle Kingdoms.

Half an hour's walk south of the monastery are two conspicuous high cliffs, one of which is covered with inscriptions.

The Nubia Museum opened in 1997. The collection reflects the history and character of Nubia. Among other pieces the collection includes the statue of Ramses II, statute of Amenras, the head of the Shpatka, and the head of black granite of Tahraqa.

Many of the items were discovered during the UNESCO salvage operation in sites that are now submerged.

In the south of the town are the ruins of the Qasr el-Mula, situated on a hill amid beautiful gardens, and a small Ptolemaic temple.

An interesting excursion from the Monastery of St Simeon (2 hours by camel or donkey) is to the sandstone quarries which lie on the banks of the Nile to the north of St Simeon's Monastery. Here can be seen the upper part of an unfinished obelisk with carvings and an inscription in the name of Sethos I.

There are only scanty remains of the ancient city of Syene on the right bank of the Nile mainly inscriptions on rocks and architectural fragments built into modern houses.

On the west bank of the Nile, opposite the south end of Elephantine, is the Villa Nur el-Salam, set in carefully tended gardens, which belonged to Aga Khan III (Sultan Mohammed Shah, b. 1887 in Karachi, d. 1957 at Versoix in Switzerland), spiritual head of the Khojas, a branch of the Ismaili sect. The Khojas, who revere him as the 48th Imam, live mainly in India and East Africa. For many years the Aga Khan spent the winter months at Aswan, seeking relief from a rheumatic complaint.