Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer

World Heritage Identification Number: 1749

World Heritage since: 2024

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: Yes

Country: 🇵🇸 State of Palestine

Continent: Asia

UNESCO World Region: Arab States

Map

Exploring the Ancient Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm Amer: A Significant Monastic Site in the Middle East

The Saint Hilarion Monastery, also known as Tell Umm Amer, is a remarkable archaeological site located in the Nuseirat Municipality, within the borders of the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024, this ancient monastery represents one of the earliest monastic settlements in the Middle East, dating back to the 4th century.

More to come…

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Situated on the coastal dunes in Nuseirat Municipality, the ruins of Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer represent one of the earliest monastic sites in the Middle East, dating back to the 4th century. Founded by Saint Hilarion, the monastery began with solitary hermits and evolved into a coenobitic community. It was the first monastic community in the Holy Land, laying the groundwork for the spread of monastic practices in the region. The monastery occupied a strategic position at the crossroads of major trade and communication routes between Asia and Africa. This prime location facilitated its role as a hub of religious, cultural, and economic interchange, exemplifying the flourishing of monastic desert centres during the Byzantine period.

Encyclopedia Record: Saint Hilarion Monastery

Saint Hilarion Monastery, at the archaeological site of Tell Umm el-'Amr, was an ancient Christian monastery. Its excavated ruins lay close to Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Additional Site Details

Area: 1.3293 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions

Coordinates: 31.4473055556 , 34.3663611111

Image

« Previous: Saint Catherine Area Back to Index Next: Salonga National Park »

About World Heritage Explorer

World Heritage Explorer is an independent educational project designed to uncover and share the richness of our world’s cultural and natural heritage. Dive into detailed site profiles, immersive imagery, interactive maps, and tools that help you explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the globe. Drawing extensively on open data sources, the project delivers authoritative, well-structured information for learners, educators, travelers, and younger explorers alike.

Learn more

Nearby World Heritage Sites

Caves of Maresha and Bet-Guvrin in the Judean Lowlands as a Microcosm of the Land of the Caves
53 km — Israel

Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town
71 km — State of Palestine

White City of Tel-Aviv – the Modern Movement
80 km — Israel

Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir
81 km — State of Palestine

Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem
85 km — State of Palestine

Country Information: State of Palestine

Official Name: State of Palestine

Capital: Ramallah; Jerusalem

Continent: Asia

Population (2024): 5,289,152

Population (2023): 5,165,775

Population (2022): 5,043,612

Land Area: 6,030 sq km

Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP;ILS;JOD)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer
Wikipedia: Saint Hilarion Monastery

Portions of the page Saint Hilarion Monastery/ Tell Umm Amer are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Saint Hilarion Monastery, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.