The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has named Siwa Oasis in Egypt’s Matrouh governorate Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2027, in recognition of a unique architectural and human heritage the oasis has preserved for centuries.
Siwa lies about 306 kilometres south-west of Marsa Matrouh, in a depression stretching about 82 kilometres from east to west and between 9 and 26 kilometres wide.
The oasis is known for its fortified towns built of “kershef”, a mix of mud and salt, led by Shali Ghadi in the heart of Siwa and Aghurmi, home to the famous Oracle Temple associated with Alexander the Great’s visit, as well as El-Gara and El-Zeitoun. Scholars of Islamic archaeology see Siwa as preserving a complete Islamic urban fabric that makes it unique among Egypt’s heritage towns.
Beyond its architecture, the oasis is famous for its salt lakes, natural springs, palm and olive groves, and a living Amazigh culture with its own language, crafts and dress.
Source: Al-Ahram Gate. Images: Wikimedia Commons (free licences)
