Aswan

Aswan lies around 245km south of Luxor, and in the periods of the Ancient Egyptians it was perceived as the ‘opening’ of Egypt as the population oriented themselves towards the life-giving Nile waters of the south, and Aswan was the southernmost town. The city houses a busy market, and is a hub of tourist activities. The city is located north of the Aswan Dam on the East Bank of the Nile, and is the capital of the Aswan Governorate.

           The city is an important stage for Egyptian built heritage, and includes five monuments protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the ‘Rescue of Nubian Monuments and Sites’. Even as recent as 2018 there have been remarkable findings in Aswan, including the sandstone sphinx statue at the temple of Kom Ombo, and a bust of Marcus Aurelius. Aswan, like Luxor, is hot and dry, and the monuments also suffer from the same groundwater issues which are deteriorating temples in Luxor. As well as having this vibrant and important tangible heritage, the city also understands its intangible heritage, and is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in craft and folk art. Aswan is often visited by tourists to Luxor, as there are multi-day Nile cruises which embark on heritage trails.