The drive there through the winding, rock-flanked valley is beautiful
On the other hand, the long oasis is only moderately attractive. Excavations have proven that the oasis was settled in ancient times and from the 4th to the 7th century, was even the seat of a bishop. Only a few ruined walls remain of the bishop’s church on the hill of the former settlement. The other buildings are identifiable only by archaeologists. A guide to the excavation sites can be bought in the small convent of nunsDeir Saghir, which is definitely worth a visit. This modest branch of St Catherine’s Monastery occupies an elevated site on the left of the road and is surrounded by lovingly tended gardens with date palms, orange and lemon trees, vegetable gardens and flowers. St Catherine’s Monastery has always had gardens in this fertile valley to grow fruits and vegetables for the monks. In 1978, a Greek Orthodox convent was founded here; 5 nuns are here today. Visitors receive a very friendly welcome, and those who want to stay overnight can do so in a guest room – a wonderful, restorative place which still has much of the monastic solitude and peace which St Catherine’s Monastery unfortunately lost a long time ago.
