مقبرة نفرتاري

Carved into the Valley of the Queens on Luxor's West Bank, the tomb of Nefertari — great royal wife of Ramesses II — is widely regarded as the most beautiful painted tomb in all of Egypt, its colours so vivid and refined that it has earned the nickname 'the Sistine Chapel of Egypt.'

Descending the stairs, you meet walls alive with turquoise, gold and deep red: the queen in a sheer white gown, gods reaching to guide her, ceilings scattered with golden stars on a midnight-blue sky. The plaster relief and painting represent the peak of New Kingdom artistry, meticulously conserved after decades of restoration.

Access is tightly controlled to protect the fragile pigments, with a premium timed ticket and a short visit inside. For anyone moved by ancient art, it is worth every pound.