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Siwa
Oasis is the furthest away from Cairo, around 710 Km West of Cairo.
It is also
one of the most fascinating. On the edge of the Great Sand Sea,
its rich history includes a visit from Alexander the Great to consult
the Oracle of Amun in 331 BC. Siwans have their own culture and
customs and they speak xa Berber language,Wiwi, rather than Arabic.
Many women still wear traditional costumes and silver jewellery
like those displayed in The Traditional Siwan House museum in the
towncenter. Siwa remains one of the best places to buy jewellery,
rugs, baskets and traditional robes and headdresses decorated with
antique coins. Shali, founded in 1203, superseded the original settlement,
Aghurmi. Built of salt-impregnated mud of kharsif, the fortress-like
community expanded upwards rather than outwards.  Set
among thick palm groves, walled gardens and olive orchards, with
numerous freshwater springs and salt lakes, modern Siwa clusters
beneath the remains of ancient Shali. Climb through the ruins of
the old city for magnificent views of the whole oasis. There are
numerous sights and bathing places. These include 26th Dynasty tombs
with murals and inscriptions at Jebel al-Mawta (The Hill of the
Dead) and the Oracle of Amun, and acropolis temple dating from around
550 BC. Near the Oracle are a ruined Temple of Amun and the famous
Cleopatra Bath, a deep pool of bubbling water where you can bathe.
Another favorite bathing spot do palm trees and beautiful scenery
surround TAGHAGHIEN Island, on the salt lake of Birket Siwa?
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