St Simon the Tanner Monastery

St Simon the Tanner Monastery

St Simon the Tanner Monastery
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles49 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
15
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0

Kathleen21613
Cambridge, MD33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Was unaware of the events involving St. Simon, the Muslims vs the Coptic Christians in the 900s, and the Mountain moving 6 km that saved the Coptic Christians from slaughter. The caves are beautiful and amazing, the artistry of the Polish gentleman, sculpting scenes from the Bible into the sides of the mountain, is awe inspiring. Our favorite tour in Cairo.
Written 18 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andreas
Linz, Austria287 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2012 • Friends
I am sure "normal" tours would never leed you to the Mokkatam mountain with its both absolute special sigths of Cairo. Coming from the Citadelle you have to find the road towards the mountain into the Zabbaleen village. Here the "garbage people" of Cairo live. Most of them are Christians. They collect and sort the garbage of the inhabitants. Its their income and basis of life which now slowly is taken over by "normal" industrial garbage companies which not at all give the same service like the Zabbaleen did. Its a hard challenge for your nose and eyes to see all the garbage and the children in between. Visiting it a second time after about 5 years we are positive surprised about changes in cleanses. Much more nice shops along the road invite for a stop.
The Sisters of Mercy (Mother Theresa) and Sr. Emmanuelle (Sister of Notre Dame de Sion) have been very much engaged in support those peoples education and health care.
You just drive up to a right turn with a sign for the St. Simon Monastery. Then you already enter it through large door. You will find huge churches cut into the rock and amazing reliefs and figures along the wall done by an polish artist.
Sometimes huge groups of pilgrims like to visit this special place.
Here you get an impression of the life of a part of the inhabitants of Cairo which is very different to all other places.
Written 3 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anna S
Kupang, Indonesia28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
Amazing church, i feel blessed to get opportunity to came here and got experience praise and worship there. Worth to come
Written 6 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LLR_RHR
Cathedral City, CA43 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Unfortunately this site is not very publicized. It is a beautiful place that is tucked away in what they call "Garbage City." I found it only by looking for things not to miss in Cairo and we would not have missed it.
Written 16 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Semaan D. Makary
Lebanon1,213 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2017 • Friends
I was unaware of this Monastery when i went there! The cab driver who took us from the Cairo Citadel to Coptic Cairo took us there when he knew that my name is Simon and we will always be grateful to him! The Monastery was amazingggg and full of sculptures and Bible versus written on the road! We did pass by the Garbage city which was awful. This hidden gem is a must-visit.
Written 28 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Adrianus D
Sengata, Indonesia136 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2016 • Couples
The church of St Simon Tanner is a must see in Cairo. Actually there are two churches here, the open air amphitheatre and the smaller one inside a cave. I think these churches were miraculous. They were built inside the caves of Mount Mukattam hills. The churches have very unique amphitheatre architecture with the altar located at the central of the cave. The surroinding natural walls were carved by skillful hands to display sculptures of The Saints and Bible verses of the new testament.
I was lucky to attend an afternoon mass service inside the smaller church of St. Simon Tanner Monastery. This is a miracle church, where faith of one believer has been given an answer by Our Lord.
Written 2 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lisa L
Kherson, Ukraine130 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Family
Stunning small monastery full of history, legend and good energy... This place hidden deep inside of "Garbage city" and hide 2 caves and small Miracle church.
This place is free for visitors and has very friendly stuff ho ill sho u the place and tell all its history.
Written 17 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michael-Mousa
Aswan, Egypt6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2015 • Couples
At the far end of the village, awaits you an unexpected, stunning place; a vast open space lying in the bosom of the hills, with dramatic colored carvings all over the mountain. The carvings were done by a Polish Artist who begun working there several years ago. They represent stories from the Bible such as the Holy Family journey and the Nativity scene.
Written 2 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

litseyk
Charlottesville, VA6,094 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2015 • Solo
You must drive through "Garbage City" in order to reach the entrance to this place. IT is free to visit and is a must for historical and photographic purposes. It offers amazing views that are a must see. The carvings in the rock high up make me dizzy thinking how they were carved years ago. Enjoy!!
Written 28 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Odile L
18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2015 • Family
You drive through tiny alleys,through the garbage collectors village where all the garbage of Cairo is sorted and recycled and suddenly you arrive in front of breathtaking church carved into a mountain where the most beautiful sculptures illustrating the life of Christ surround an amphitheater built inside the mountain! How is it that this place isn't on every tour guide in Egypt? I'm still awestruck! Loved it!
Written 11 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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St Simon the Tanner Monastery, Cairo - Tripadvisor

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