Saint Catherine Area

At the foot of the mountain where tradition holds that Moses was given the Tablets of the Law stands the Monastery of St Catherine, in continuous use since its founding in the 6th century — the oldest working Christian monastery in existence. The peak, known to Muslims as Jebel Musa, is sacred to Christianity, Islam and Judaism alike, and the rugged landscape around it is strewn with holy and archaeological sites, while the monastery guards celebrated collections of early manuscripts and icons. UNESCO granted the area World Heritage status in 2002.