Luxor, Egypt
Ancient Egyptian necropolis
At the southern end of the Theban necropolis on the West Bank lies the Valley of the Queens, known in antiquity as Ta-Set-Neferu, which can mean both the Place of Beauty and the Place of the Royal Children. Queens, princes, princesses and senior officials were buried here from about 1560 to 1130 BC, while the kings went to the nearby Valley of the Kings. The main wadi holds 91 tombs, and side valleys add another 19. The most famous is the tomb of Nefertari, wife of Ramesses II, often called the most beautiful tomb in Egypt for its astonishingly preserved paintings; it has its own ticket and limited visitor numbers. Usually open as well are the tomb of Prince Amenherkhepshef, son of Ramesses III, with its clear blue backgrounds, and that of Prince Khaemwaset. The Italians Ernesto Schiaparelli and Francesco Ballerini excavated the valley in the early 1900s; its closeness to the workers' village at Deir el-Medina was probably one reason it was chosen.
The standard ticket covers several open tombs; Nefertari's tomb needs a separate, much pricier ticket with a short time limit inside, so decide in advance. Allow an hour to an hour and a half. The valley is smaller and calmer than the Valley of the Kings, and mornings are best. Photography rules inside tombs change, so ask at the entrance.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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AttractionLuxor, Egypt
