From Aswan to Abu Simbel it is about 3 hours. A somewhat monotonous road during which it is possible to observe the mirage phenomenon and the curious circular crops managed by the army.
Destined to be submerged by Nile’s waters, held back by the new Aswan dam, the temples of Abu Simbel were dismantled and rebuilt piece by piece between 1964 and 1968 about 300 meters from their original position, thanks to an international intervention promoted by UNESCO.
The two temples were commissioned by the pharaoh Ramses II: the Great Temple, dedicated to the pharaoh himself, is carved for 55 meters into the rock with a façade 35 meters wide where 4 statues stand representing Ramses II with the queen, the mother and the children at his feet;
the Small Temple, dedicated to the goddess Hathor and built in honor of his wife Nefertari, has a façade 12 meters high along which there are 4 statues of the pharaoh and 2 of his wife in standing position, with those of the children beside them. At the end of the visit, return to Aswan.
