دير سانت كاترين

At the foot of Mount Sinai stands St Catherine's, founded in the 6th century and the world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery. Behind fortress-like granite walls it shelters an extraordinary living archive: one of the greatest collections of early icons anywhere, thousands of ancient manuscripts, and a basilica glittering with mosaics.

In the grounds grows the bush revered as the biblical Burning Bush, and the monastery's setting, hemmed by stark mountains, gives it a hushed, timeless power. Greek Orthodox monks still keep the daily round of prayer here.

Many visitors combine it with the pre-dawn climb of Mount Sinai, arriving at the monastery as it opens.