El Minya
El Minya is called the 'Bride of Upper Egypt'
do to its location which is roughly at the border of Upper and
Lower Egypt. It lies about 153 miles south of Cairo and is a
center for the manufacture of soap, perfume and sugar processing.
It is also the provincial capital. Once a cotton center, there
are some fine houses here, though not very old, which housed
the Greek and Egyptian cotton barons, but now house government
offices.
There is little historical to see here, though the tree lined
Corniche along the Nile is pleasant. About four miles outside
town is a Muslim and Christian cemetery called Zawiyyet al-Mayyiteen
(Place of the Dead) which is said to be one of the largest cemeteries
in the world. Other sights to see include the El-Umra Mosque,
which is the town's oldest and the El-Lamati Mosque.
Unfortunately, Minya obtained a reputation for Islamic opposition
to the Egyptian government. We hope this reputation is changing,
as Minya has always been considered a pleasant stop over.
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