Abu Mena in Egypt. Photo credit: Veto Gate
Abu Mena, Egypt
Abu Mena, which is located 45 km southwest of Alexandria, Egypt, is an ancient town that served as a monastery complex and Christian pilgrimage center in the Late Antique Egypt. The site was excavated in the early 1900s and was named a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Although some foundations of the major buildings such as the great basilica are still visible, many of the site’s remains have been destroyed by the rising water table in the area. Egyptian authorities have placed sand in the bases of the most endangered structures at the site to prevent them from collapsing. Aside from the basilica, there are other significant structures within the site, including a Church where the saint’s remains and Roman baths are housed, and a large dormitory for pilgrims.
