Monastery of St. Anthony - the oldest Coptic monastery in Egypt. According to legend, St. Anthony, orphaned at age 18, went to the mountains to become a hermit and to serve God. After his death in the IV century on his grave it was founded the monastery. The Monastery was repeatedly attacked the Bedouins and Muslims.

The monastery includes not only the temple and cells to live 25 monks, and several chapels, a bakery, a mill, a library, refectory and outbuildings. The church of St. Antony is adorned with magnificent frescoes of the XIII century.

80 km from the monastery of St. Monastery of St. Anthony is located. Paul. According to tradition, Paul was born into a wealthy Alexandrian family, but in 16 years, went into the wilderness, and became a hermit. For several decades he lived in a cave, like St. Anthony, around which later grew up the monastery.

The main church of the monastery of St. Paul is decorated with frescoes depicting the Virgin Mary with Child and archangels. The monastery remained high tower, where he kept the water from a hidden source that monks saved from death during an attack by Bedouins.