Addis Ababa Attractions
Bet Giorgis church, Lalibela © Judith Duk
Lalibela
Lalibela is one of the world's most remarkable spiritual sites,
home to Ethiopia's astounding rock hewn churches and an important
source of pilgrimage to Ethiopia's Orthodox Christians. There are
13 churches in total, each carved from a single piece of granite,
and all in current use. They were carved between the 10th and 12th
centuries in a bid to create the New Jerusalem for those unable to
pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The small town itself is fairly
rudimental, but there is an airport, one large hotel and good
restaurants. The atmosphere of Lalibela can be described as
biblical, a quiet, mystical place, with a cool, moist climate, that
never fails to astound its growing number of visitors. It should be
noted that Lalibela and its churches are not tourist attractions,
but places for worship and contemplation: tourists should be
respectful when visting and taking photographs.
