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The Sinai
AWAY AWAY
El Tor |
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Al Tor is the administrative capital of the South Sinai Governorate. Before all the governmental and legal offices were situated in Al Tor, now some have been moved to Nuweiba. It is still the place one has to go for an extension of ones visa. For this, bring your passport and a photocopy of your passport or a passport photo. The town first had the name Raithu. Later it was given the name Al Tor. The name Al Tor was taken from the greek to oros, meaning the mountain, and given to the place by the first monks who settled there. The old city was built on top of a fossil coral plateau, with many of the old houses being built from fossil corals (some of these houses can still be seen today). |
The old city was situated around the bay which served as a natural port with a strategic location at the mouth of the Gulf of Suez. During unfavourable winds shipments were unloaded in Al Tor and taken to Suez overland. For a long time Al Tor was also a stopover place for pilgrims heading for Mecca. A building was erected for those pilgrims who were obliged to spend some time in quarantine. The first monks settled here in the beginning of the 4th century, The first monastery was built in the 6th century. |
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Hammam Musa, at the northern point of Wadi Al Tor, is a sulphur thermal spring (temp.27 º C) tumbling its waters into a number of pools under the shade of palm trees. The spring has recently been renovated, upgrading the spring to a nice resort: new clean pools , hut-like chalets spaced out between the palm trees and a restaurant a bit up the hill. There is also a ostrich farm close by. |
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For more information contact us at: katherine@awayaway-sinai.net or call 00 20 122270443 |