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Abstract Conclusion The study showed that some of these sites are not part of the Egyptian tourism map, such as Deir El-Maymun, one of the oldest monastery in Beni-Suef governorate . The study discovered the inadequacy of the database and statistical surveys concerning the religious sites and monuments or the number of tourists visiting these, their nationalities, the means of transportation used by them, and the extent of their sojourn. There is therefore, no basis to support any promotional and developmental effort. The religious sites included in all programs are the same, as they only feature Old Cairo, Fatimid Cairo, Wadi al-Natrun, whereas it would be possible to include other sites such as the church in the monastery of Fayum and Beni-Suef . The monastery of the Holy Virgin Bayad al-Nasara, the monastery of Mar Guirguis in Sadmant al-Gabal. These have rooms and guest-houses for visitors, and even in Deir Bayad al-Nasara which also offers a Nile view. The visit to Beni-Suef governorate revealed some drawbacks. For instance the rural road leading to the governorate is a one way narrow lane which is being enlarged into a two way road in some points which might represent a danger to drivers of cars and tourism buses, this in addition to the difficulty in reaching the sites and the absence of policemen to secure the sites and the tourists. Therefore, this road should be given importance. It should be provided with direction signs, especially where it leads to the tourism sites without developing and modernizing the superstructure in the governorate as a whole and those of the sites in particular, Beni-Suef will never have its fair share of incoming tourism. ___ Means of transportation in Beni-Suef are limited to land transportation (railway and tourism buses), but no fluvial transportation is available despite the width of the Nile in this governorate. The researcher has mad map which shows the monasteries and approaches to them .It also describes them architecturally. The researcher has also made a plan for each church of the monasteries . Archeological Conclusions It was found that the Coptic style is a mixture of Basilical and Byzantine styles, as all churches feature elements of both styles. The atmosphere of the Coptic church however remains unique in its architecture and even in its architectural terminology. Although the roofs were made out of fragile material such as mud and mud bricks the initial style was the vault and the parabolic dome with no supports, in the manner of the ancient Egyptians. When these started to collapse they started supporting the dome with semi domes, curved triangles inspired by the Byzantines and squinches, and stalactites, in addition to the dome built on a square plan after its angles were muted into a curve through corner wooden beams. Monasteries in Beni-Suef are independent from each other in their architecture. Interior design was initially very simple and of outstanding beauty. The few remaining articles of furniture exude the same atmosphere. These monasteries are architectural and artistic wonders. Unfortunately they are threatened to disappear because of the restoration works done in a less than scientific method, and which also disfigure the monuments and alter their original form.. An instance of this can be seen in the church of St Anthony in Deir El - Maymun where one of the main columns supporting the church roof was restored with concrete in a completely disfiguring way (figure 18 , 60). ___ Monasteries today have a different character and appearance than before ; following no technical ways of mummification is very harmful , so rules have to be set for the preservation of the cultural heritage. The concrete restoration in Deir El Hammam is depriving the site of its archeological characteristic (pictures 66, 67, 90, 94). We have to face in an objective way the architectural development of all buildings and the different interior design in the single units of the monasteries, as these are an important part of the history of our Egyptian culture.. |