Lying beyond the center of Minya-Egypt is the Zawiyet el-Mayyiteen, named the Dead City. This is a gigantic cemetery, both in size and in quantity, of countless tombs.
The cony white arches spread along a wide delta, looking like the sea waves. Each tomb was built with mud bricks which are thousand years old. This cemetery is currently used as a place of rest for Muslims and Christians. Beside the cony tombs, there is a small pyramid built on the East side of Nile river, belonging to the later half of the third Emperor. Moreover, there are some rock tombs separated from the Ancient Emperors found in this cemetery.
The Dead City is also one of the most common destination in Egypt. You only have to catch a cab (taxi) to the suburban area of Minya, then go by boat through Nile river, and after about only 30 minutes you will reach this cemetery. The landscape here is extremely beautiful during the dawn and the sunset.
Tourists are required to dress properly when going to the cemetery, because it is a holy and solemn place. The modestness and closeness of the way tourists dress show their respect to the dead.
To the East of Nile river lies the Mother Mary monastery, before arriving to the Dead City you should visit this place.
