In the Western Bank there is another interesting site, the Monastery of Saint Simeon (Deir Qmba Samaan). It was one of the first Christian monasteries in Egypt. This Coptic monastery was dedicated to a local saint, Amba Hadra.
The original monastery had ten meters tall walls and lookout towers. In 1173 the monastery was destroyed and rebuilt, it was then dedicated to Saint Simeon. In the monastery the visitor can enjoy early Coptic paintings on the walls, but the main reason to visit it are the splendid views it has.