CAIROMonastery
Monastery of Saint Simon
30.0310, 31.2760
Carved into the Mokattam cliffs above Cairo, the Monastery of Saint Simon, the Cave Church, is among the largest Christian churches in the Middle East, with an amphitheatre-like sanctuary hewn from the rock that seats thousands. It rises at the heart of Manshiyat Naser, the district of the Zabbaleen, Cairo's Coptic garbage-collectors who have turned waste recycling into a way of life.
The drive up through the busy recycling quarter is part of the experience, an unvarnished look at a remarkable community. At the top, the cliff face is carved with vast biblical reliefs, and the cave interiors open into cool, dramatic spaces of worship. It is one of Cairo's most extraordinary and moving sights, hidden in plain view above the city.
Know before you go
The route passes through the working Zabbaleen recycling district, which can be pungent and busy; go respectfully, ideally with a guide who knows the area.