The town of Wadi Natroun, Egypt, offers a change of pace from ancient Egyptian ruins. It's the spiritual center of the Coptic church and has monasteries and hermitages from the fourth to the ninth centuries.
One of the monasteries is Deir Abu Makaryus (most Coptic popes have been selected from the monks there). It has a dungeon-tower that incorporates no fewer than four churches and a wine vat. The second-floor church has an iconostasis and sculptures dating from the fourth and fifth centuries.
Another stop in Wadi Natroun that should not be missed is a visit to the Red Lake, El Hamra. This lake was significant to the pharaohs for the mummification process. Salts were gathered from the lake for the 40-day drying process every mummy underwent. For those interested in the Holy Family and the flight to Egypt, legend tells us Mary stopped there for a drink of water on their journey.
Wadi Natroun is located 60 mi/100 km northwest of Cairo.
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