The Old City of Shali in Siwa Oasis | Shali Fortress
Do you know what is Shali? Do you hear the word “ Shali” before? Shali is a fortress in Siwa, but It is not a usual fortress. It is located in Siwa Oasis in the western desert where you can find alive heart of the Oasis rich with nature. The word Shali originated from the Amazigh language which means the fortified city. The scene of the fortress of Shali narrates its story and displays how the citizens of Siwa lived 800 years ago. The reason behind the building of the fortress was to protect the citizens from the attacks of the Arabs and the traveling tribes who wanted to invade the city.
The material of building the fortress was made out of salt from the salted lakes combined with mud, which makes it strong like the cement when it dries. The date of building Shali fortress back to the 12th and 13th centuries when were the tribes trying to attack Siwa in harvesting time to get the harvest. The fortress included only one door first and its called “ Bab El Madina” or the gate of the city. In addition to surrounding the fortress with a massive wall to protect it. Discover this beautiful unique scene of Shali fortress in Siwa through Egypt Christmas Tours during your visit to Egypt with your family and partners.
The design of the fortress of Shali includes an old mosque inside the walls of the fortress, It also includes a new door for the fortress called “the new door or gate” or “ El Bab El Gadid”. In 1926, there was rainy weather which was continuous for three days that had led to the collapse of the houses; therefore, some citizens were obligated to leave their houses to have more safe houses. Contact Cairo Top Tours professional tour operators and get a magnificent trip to one of the top visited destinations in Egypt from Egypt Easter Tours in Egypt.
The Shali Fortress: A Timeless Landmark in Siwa Oasis
The Shali Fortress is an old fortress in Siwa Oasis that you can visit when you travel from Cairo to Siwa Oasis, it is one of the unique tourist attractions that you can visit on Siwa Oasis Trip from Cairo.
Siwa Oasis Attractions: Temples, Springs, and Ancient Wonders
Many tourists come from all over the world to visit it as it has many kinds of attractions to enjoy during your Egypt Travel Packages or while having your Cairo Day Tours such as the natural water warm water springs, which are used for natural treatment and historical sights such as the Temple of the Oracle, Temple of Amun, and the Mountain of the Dead.
The Ruins of Shali Fortress: Siwa’s 13th-Century Stronghold
In the center of Siwa, the ruins of the fortress of Shali of the 13th Century are imposed. Constructed from a material known as a kerchief, "(a mixture of salt rocks from the salt lakes of the region and clay). was built to protect the inhabitants from Bedouin attacks. Interestingly, with just one heavy rain in the year 1936, Shali began to crumble.
Exploring Shali: Siwa’s Mosque, Handicrafts, and Unique Souvenirs
On the way up there is the entrance of a mosque that was the only original building of the renovated Shali. Along the way there are also handicraft and fabric shops, all very original and different from those found in the rest of Egypt, it is worth visiting for those who want to bring souvenirs of this unique region.
